asked the Minister for Transport when the position of nautical surveyor and examiner in his Department will be filled; if it is the practice in his Department to import examination papers from the United Kingdom Department of Trade for masters and mates certificate examinations; and if he will ensure that appropriately qualified persons are employed at all times by his Department to set such examinations in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nautical Surveyors and Examiners.
51.
My Department hope to be in a position shortly to invite the Civil Service Commission to set up a competition for the post of nautical surveyor. The post should be filled within the next few months provided a candidate is found qualified for appointment.
Arrangements have been made with the appropriate British authorities to provide and mark examination papers for certificates of competency for deck, and engineer officer examinations as from 1 February 1981. This system will enable us to maintain the issue of Irish certificates of competency, while maintaining reciprocity with British certificates. It is, however, a temporary arrangement until such time as alternative provisions can be made for the conduct of the examinations.
Does the Minister intend to set up an examination board in this country?
As I stated in my reply, this is only a temporary arrangement until we can arrive at a more satisfactory one such as that suggested by the Deputy.
That is the eventual intention?
Yes.
Is it the intention to adopt the same standards as in the UK?
Yes, because there is an interplay between the certificates issued here and the UK. We will have to keep the same standards.
Will that position pertain even when we have our own examination board?
It will be our objective to maintain it because it is in the interests of all concerned that it should be maintained.