Ritchie Supports Coastguard In Assembly Speech

“Having the fishing ports of Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie in South Down, I knowu2028just how important the Bangor Coastguard station is, and the necessityu2028of maintaining this service which has developed a comprehensiveu2028knowledge of our seas. [caption id="attachment_15413" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has spoken in the Assembly in support of the HM Coastguard. "][/caption] “It must not be ignored that our service operates on a cross-borderu2028basis with the Irish Government, and if it were to be axed we would loseu2028an absolutely vital resource for protecting people throughout Ireland. “Another difficulty in shifting this service, and depending on au2028coastguard station in Liverpool, for instance, is that the island ofu2028Ireland operates with Ordnance Survey at the point of origin which isu2028totally incompatible with the English mapping system. “The Northern Ireland Coastguard Station is also the only service in theu2028North to co-ordinate rescue operations both inland and on waterways inu2028our region.xa0 If it were to close, the amount of essential assistanceu2028given by the Coastguard Station would be greatly diminished and livesu2028would be put at risk. “The courage of those who devote time to rescue efforts on our shoresu2028must not be taken for granted by government and funding for this centreu2028must be protected. The British Government must preserve the Coastguardu2028Station on a full-time basis in Northern Ireland and that must be theu2028united political message coming from this Assembly.” ]]>