The third joint Search and Rescue competition between the Irish Coast Guard and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland took place in Howth over the weekend.

Minister for Transport and the Marine Noel Dempsey TD stated: "The joint Search and Rescue games are another example of the excellent cooperation that exists within Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) on the whole island of Ireland. Once again this event demonstrates the ability of the two Coast Guard services to work together to achieve common goals and improve the services provided by all."

At Howth Yacht Club on Saturday, the Secretary General of the Department of Transport, Ms Julie O Neill, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, presented the Captain Kirwan Cup at the Annual Formal Awards Dinner, to the best Coast Guard Search and Rescue Team in Ireland. At the event she praised the work done on the formalisation of closer links between the Irish Coast Guard and the Northern Ireland Coastguard and will welcome the work proceeding on the development of an operational agreement between the two organisations.

Secretary General O'Neill believes that: "An all island approach to search and rescue will offer better safeguards to the seagoing communities on the island of Ireland. In sea rescue there are no borders only boundaries."

There has been a tradition of cooperation and joint training between many of this weekend¹s participants going back to the 1980s. The joint Search and Rescue games are another step in developing joint training programmes between the Irish Coast Guard and the Northern Ireland Coastguard.

The Games also provide a forum for the National Maritime SAR Management to discuss policy in an informal and friendly environment. Senior Coastguard Management from the UK will attend the event. This will allow parties to access and monitor SAR resources on the Island.

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