Transport Minister Noel Dempsey taking questions from RTE’s Damien Tiernan, Conor Kane (Irish Independent), Michael Parsons (Irish Times) and, slightly obscured in the shot, Dermot Keyes (The Munster Express). | Photo: Gavin Downey
“How much is a life worth, Minister,” a protestor questioned as Transport Minister Noel Dempsey cut the ribbon at Knocktopher to officially open the new section of the M9 connecting Waterford to Danesfort.
At the sort of occasion usually dominated by the benefits that a new road will bring to a region, Minister Dempsey found himself fielding questions on just one topic on Monday morning.
A public enraged (online at least) by the proposed reduction of the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue (SAR) provision from Waterford Airport isn’t best pleased with the Minister.
But if Noel Dempsey is losing sleep over one of the largest online campaigns in the country’s history, he’s one hell of a good actor if Monday’s performance offers any indication.
“The service is not being cut, and I want to make this very, very clear,” he told assembled reporters at Knocktopher on Monday.
“What we’re doing is improving the service. I’ve heard talk about €1 million of a saving – we’re actually increasing the amount of money on that service from approximately €27 million to €50 million.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full story.
