Speaking at this month’s Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council held in Dungarvan, Sinn Féin Councillor Catherine Burke called on the Minister for Transport and the Irish Aviation Authority to acknowledge that on-call time is working time for Search and Rescue crews.
Cllr. Burke, whose uncle was lost at sea, brought a Notice of Motion nearly three hours into the Plenary Council meeting, which she said was the perfect time as minds were weary, and she asked her fellow councillors “can you imagine that it is 11 o’clock at night and from this point on your working hour work was counted as 15 minutes?”
“That’s exactly what’s happening for our search and rescue teams who stand as a vital safety net for our coasts and our mountains here in Waterford,” she said.
“Whether it is a missing hiker in dangerous terrain or a person in distress off shore. These workers are the ones who respond often in the worst whether and the most difficult hours to save lives.
“Yet we rely on them to be ready on a moment’s notice during their stand by time after 11.00 pm on a 24 hour shift. They must remain close to home, or base, and stay alert.
“It’s not recognised as on-duty time. In truth when you are on-call you can’t live normally, you can’t plan a family outing, or relax, you have to stay near your gear.”
The motion was not a matter of finances, according to Cllr. Burke, but is about recognising the time given by Search and Rescue crews for what it is.
“This isn’t about money. It’s about time. The Search and Rescue crew’s time should be valued as such. When they are on their shift it should be recognised as 24 hours work and not 16.5 hours,” Cllr. Burke said.
“To those of us who live in costal or mountainous areas, we all know of people that have been in need of our much treasured 117 helicopter and its crew. Their work is vital to us, day and night they give their expertise to rescue. We must support them as they support us,” she added.
Cllr. John Hearne, who seconded the motion, concurred with Cllr. Burke’s sentiments.
The motion was passed by the council unanimously.
AARON KENT Funded by a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
