asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the procedures his Department have for ensuring that, when a ship sinks, runs aground, or breaks up in Irish coastal waters, a full public inquiry is held by his Department.
Written Answers. - Departmental Shipping Inquiries.
471.
The Merchant Shipping Acts provide that, when a shipping casualty occurs inside Irish territorial waters, the circumstances may at my direction be made the subject of a preliminary inquiry to be carried out by a qualified officer nominated by me. In the light of the findings of this preliminary inquiry, I am empowered by the Acts to require the holding of a formal public inquiry.