Within three days of his appointment as Minister for The Marine and Natural Resources, Frank Fahey TD (Teachta Dala - Member of the Irish Dail or parliament) paid a courtesy call to Galway lifeboat station to visit the boathouse and view the Atlantic 75 lifeboat Dochas (Irish language for Hope) and met with members of the volunteer crew and station committee.

Minister Fahey paid tribute to the work done by the Institution and in particular praised Galway lifeboat station who, in a short four years since first going on station, have launched 98 times and saved 45 lives off the Galway coast..