asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that a number of the smaller and medium sized fishing boats along the north and west Donegal coast have had VHF radio installed; and, if so, if he will ensure that receiving equipment is installed at Malin Head wireless station, County Donegal, to receive sea-to-land messages.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ship-to-Shore Radio.
19.
Present legislation requires that fishing boats over 60 feet in length must carry radio equipment capable of operating on the medium frequency radio-telephone distress channel of 2182 kilocycles. I understand that a number of vessels carry VHF equipment for commercial purposes. Because of its short range the utility of VHF for distress messages is very limited.
In view of the growing use of VHF the World Radio Conference designated a VHF channel as a distress frequency and recommended that Governments which considered it necessary and practicable should provide for the maintenance of a watch on this frequency.
The desirability of such measures and the provision of associated shore facilities is under examination with the Departments of Posts and Telegraphs and Agriculture and Fisheries.
Would the Minister not agree that these VHF radios provided by the skippers and boat owners in the smaller type of boat are a necessity especially in areas of Malin Head and is there anything that can be done immediately or will this take some time?
As I said, Governments considered it necessary and practicable to provide for the maintenance of a watch on this frequency. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is the Department to decide whether or not it is necessary and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs is the Department to decide whether or not it is practicable. If the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries says it is necessary and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs says it is practicable it will be done.
Could we not get some expedition into this?