The Minister for Transport is being asked to explain a ban on the Coast Guard using blue lights and sirens while driving to emergencies.

Management informed volunteers on February 14th that they were no longer permitted to use the flashing lights and sirens while driving on public roads.

Jim Griffin is the Officer in Charge of Dunmore East Coast Guard unit.  There’s also units in Tramore and Bonmahon.

He says the signals are the only way to alert traffic that a rescue crew is trying to get through – and banning them could cost lives.

“The coast guard is the fourth emergency service, we never use our blue light to go through traffic lights, it was always just a warning to road users to make way for us where possible.”

He’s worried about the delays this will cause travelling to some incidents.

Waterford Green Party Senator Grace O’Sullivan has said the move could lead to a loss of life.

“The Coast Guard HQ are claiming that this is about safety concerns and risks for the drivers and the general public, but if a volunteer is trying to make their way to an emergency situation and is stuck in traffic, lives could be lost.

“The reality on the ground is that volunteers travelling on emergency call-outs are first and foremost trying to get there as safely and quickly as possible.

“They are not allowed to break speed limits. This is about saving lives.”

The Irish Coast Guard handles approximately 2,500 marine emergencies a year and assists some 4,500 people.

Sinn Féin’s transport spokesperson Imelda Munster says she will raise the recent directive in the Dáil.