asked the Minister for Transport (a) the number of recommendations of the Whiddy Tribunal which have been implemented to-date; (b) the recommendations which have not been implemented so far; and (c) when the outstanding recommendations will be implemented.
Written Answers. - Whiddy Tribunal Recommendations.
510.
The Whiddy Tribunal made 45 recommendations which in the main are concerned with matters of a technical nature relating to the operation of tankers and oil jetties. These recommendations can be divided into three categories, namely:
(i) recommendations whose implementation is dependent on action taken by authorities in other states (the Whiddy Tribunal Report in page 337 recognised this fact). These recommendations are Nos. 2-8, 10-13, 23;
(ii) recommendations which either relate to questions of navigational safety at the berth at Whiddy in the event of the terminal being rebuilt or relate to Irish oil terminals generally. These recommendations are Nos. 18-22, 24-43;
(iii) recommendations for implementation by my Department and by other Departments. These recommendations are recommendations Nos. 1, 9, 14, 44 and 45.
With regard to the recommendations listed in category (i), the Government have taken the necessary steps to involve the appropriate international organisations with a view to seeking their support and co-operation in implementing the recommendations. These organisations have indicated their willingness to cooperate and are engaged in specialised study of specific recommendations.
With regard to the recommendations in category (ii), implementation of recommendations 18 and 19 will only arise in the event of the Whiddy Terminal being re-opened. The remainder of the recommendations in this category are given effect to by requirements included in the Dangerous Substances (Oil Jetties) Regulations, 1979, although implementation in some cases would only arise in the event of the Whiddy Terminal being re-opened.
The position in regard to the recommendations in category (iii) is as follows:
Recommendation No 1: Legislation to allow Ireland to ratify the SOLAS, 1974 Convention and the 1978 Protocol thereto has been enacted. It is hoped that ratification will be effected shortly.
Recommendation No. 9: A Ministerial Order was made in 1981 requiring masters of tankers to complete a tanker check-list before the tanker is allowed to berth.
Recommendation No. 14: Provision was made in the legislation referred to under Recommendation No. 1 for penalties of up to £50,000 when a substandard and unsafe vessel is found within the territory of the State.
Recommendation No. 44: The Department of Labour have been designated as the Department primarily responsible, under the Oil Jetties Regulation, for the licensing and inspection of oil jetties but without prejudice to the powers and responsibilities of other Departments and public bodies.
Recommendation No. 45: The recently enacted Fire Services Act empowers a fire brigade to operate outside its own functional area.
All of the recommendations in the Whiddy Tribunal Report have been brought to the attention of harbour authorities, oil companies and other oil importers, for implementation by them as appropriate.