Debate contribution: Search and Rescue Register

Debate contribution by Mr Colm Gildernew on 20 January 2026.

MLA: Mr Colm Gildernew
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 20 January 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Search and Rescue Register
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5348536

Text

I thank the Minister for her answer and welcome the reference to a review. However, Minister, what you said totally fails to chime with what I hear from groups in my constituency, such as Tyrone Underwater Search and Recovery, which is based in Dungannon. Members of that group fundraise for themselves, volunteer and equip themselves. They volunteer in some of the most dangerous and difficult situations for families to try to save lives or, unfortunately, sometimes, recover people who have not survived. They tell me that they cannot get through the door of that system. They cannot even find out what they need to do. Minister, will you commit to meeting me or for some of your officials to do so, in order that I can explain to those groups how that process is so different from the one that you have just described?

144 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 2954/22-27.

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Not analysed

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