asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will cause a tribunal of inquiry to be set up to inquire into, and to report on, the contributory circumstances under which Seán Ó Cearna, who recently became ill on Oileán na mBlascaod, died there after a week's illness, without it being possible to summon or to bring to his aid spiritual or medical assistance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blasket Islander's Death.
I understand that the radio telephone connecting the island with the mainland was out of order at the time and owing to storms of unprecedented severity the islanders were unable to cross to the mainland for assistance. In these circumstances I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by setting up a tribunal of inquiry as suggested by the Deputy.
The Government refuses to set up such an inquiry?
I do not see what purpose a tribunal could serve.
Do I understand that the Government refuses to set up such an inquiry?
The Government is not going to set up an inquiry for no purpose whatever.
I appreciate the difficulty which the Minister may have in answering this question which was not addressed to him, but am I to understand that it is not to be regarded as a matter for serious and full inquiry that it is possible for some of the remnants of the Irish-speaking population on our islands to die in such circumstances that, for days, they cannot get the assistance of either priest or doctor?
The circumstance which led to that was the absence of communication due to the breakdown of the radio-telephone system. The Deputy can make no suggestion to indicate how news of the need for assistance could have reached the mainland when the radio-telephone had broken down.
The Minister is only partially informed. Part of the reason why it was not possible to get assistance for this young man was that there was no adequate attempt made to repair the quay at Dunquin where normally the islanders come ashore.
Has the Minister directed his attention to that aspect of the matter?
The main reason why assistance was not brought to the island was the absence of information as to the need for assistance, due to the breakdown of the radio-telephone system. When the news was conveyed to the mainland, the Valentia lifeboat went to the island.
Is the Minister not aware that not only was it not possible to get into telephonic communication with the mainland, but it was not possible for the islanders to come to the mainland in boats because of the lack of landing facilities on the mainland?
Because of the very severe weather prevailing at the time.
Because of the lack of landing facilities. The Minister is probably not aware, because other Departments are responsible for it, that repeated requests have been made for the improvement of the battered-down landing facilities on the island but that nothing at all has been done about it.