Madam, - Much has been made in Government of the need for a volunteer ethos in Irish society. This ethos is strong in mountain rescue, where approximately 300 volunteers are always available, in 12 mountain rescue teams countrywide, to come to the assistance of mountain users. Our work is carried out only at the request and direction of the Garda. Therefore, volunteers in each team are agents of the State when responding to calls for assistance.
Mountain rescue work entails many inherent risks such as high winds, icy terrain and rock fall. Serious personal injury is a real possibility. It is therefore very unfortunate that the State has specifically refused to allow mountain rescue team members the same protection against personal injury as is allowed to gardaí who accompany a team on to a mountain.
The State is asking unpaid volunteers to carry out dangerous tasks but specifically refuses to discharge the resulting duty of care to each volunteer. This is an inconsistent, unfair and dishonest position for the State to take towards volunteers who literally put their lives on the line at its request. - Yours, etc,
AIDAN FORDE, Treasurer, Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, New Road, Killarney, Co Kerry.