merrion street

Director of the Irish Coast Guard Chris Reynolds and Vice Admiral Anne-Francois de Saint-Salvy, Prefecture for the Atlantic Region and the Director of the French Coast Guard this morning signed an important agreement in Dublin on co-operation regarding Search and Rescue services.

The agreement further strengthens Irish and French co-operation for search and rescues services in the respective search and rescue regions.

The International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue provides for and encourages neighbouring countries to co-operate and assist one another in life-saving matters of search and rescue.

This technical agreement allows for the mutual cooperation and interoperability of aviation assets in the event of a major incident off Irelands south coast.

Both Coast Guards can provide either long range medium load helicopters or fixed wing aircraft that can intervene directly in support of the responsible coordinating search and rescue authority. While these events are rare it is necessary that such eventualities be considered and practised so as to be prepared for any eventuality.

Both Coast Guards absorb their own costs and so no additional burden is placed on the State. Both Coast Guards also recognise that similar support may be possible in the event of ship casualties within their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) such as obtaining top cover for a long range helicopter mission to put a salvage team aboard a stricken vessel in our region.

In all these scenarios the Irish Air Corps will remain the Irish Coast Guards first call for fixed wing top cover from their CASA aircraft.

Speaking today, Director of the Irish Coast Guard, Chris Reynolds said: "This agreement is a very welcome development and will be mutually beneficial to the search and rescue capability provided by both our countries."