Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, David Cullinane, has called for an independent review of working conditions for Irish Coast Guard search and rescue (SAR) helicopter crews, warning that current oversight practices could be putting lives at risk.

Cullinane’s intervention follows growing concern that the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is allowing the under-recording of 24-hour duty shifts — a practice that critics say could obscure the real extent of crew working hours and fatigue levels.

The TD said the issue raises “serious questions” about regulatory oversight, compliance with European working time rules, and the management of fatigue — particularly in the context of the 2017 Rescue 116 tragedy, in which four crew members died.

“Coast Guard helicopter crews risk their lives to save others and deserve full protection and recognition for the hours they work,” Cullinane said. “It is unacceptable that a 24-hour shift could be recorded as only 16 and a half hours. That not only understates their workload but could breach European safety standards.”

Reports have suggested that a reduction in logged duty hours — from 18.5 to 16.5 per 24-hour shift — allows operators to increase annual shift numbers and reduce costs. Cullinane said such practices raise concerns about “crew welfare and public safety.”

“This is not about blaming the operators,” he said. “It’s about ensuring the IAA properly enforces safety and working-time rules. If the system being approved results in fatigue or excessive working hours, that’s a direct safety risk. The IAA must explain how this has been allowed to happen.”

Cullinane also emphasised the importance of the Coast Guard’s operations for Waterford and the South East, where helicopter crews play a critical role in maritime rescues and emergency responses.

“For people in Waterford and along the south coast, search and rescue services are a lifeline,” he said. “We owe it to these crews to make sure they have the best possible working conditions and oversight.”

The Waterford TD said he has written to the Minister for Transport seeking clarification on how the IAA monitors compliance with working-time regulations for SAR crews. He has also tabled Parliamentary Questions on the issue and called on the Oireachtas Transport Committee to invite the IAA, Bristow Ireland (which operates the service), and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) to give evidence.

“We cannot afford to wait for another tragedy to act,” he said. “Crew fatigue and regulatory failure are not abstract issues — they are matters of life and death. It’s time for full transparency and accountability.”

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