Vol. 368 No. 1
asked the Minister for Communications if, in view of the urgent necessity for an effective radio communications network to help improve maritime safety around the coast, a complete VHF network will be installed and commissioned as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
asked the Minister for Communications if he has any proposals or plans to improve safety, navigational aids, and communication facilities in the coastal areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 11 together.
Measures to improve the standards for safety of life at sea are kept under review by my Department and changes introduced from time to time as resources permit to reflect changes in international practice, technological change or to rectify deficiencies which have come to light.
In recent years Ireland has ratified the two main safety conventions promoted by the International Maritime Organisation — the UN specialised agency responsible for safety at sea. The conventions, which have been given full effect in domestic legislation, are the 1974 Convention on Safety of Life at Sea known as SOLAS which governs the safe construction and equipping of boats, and the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 which governs the standards of the personnel who work on Irish ships.
In relation to the sea fishing industry, a useful recent innovation was the introduction in January 1985 of a requirement by my Department that candidates for certificates of competency for fishing vessels must first complete a basic sea survival course. About 200 successful candidates have qualified since that time. On the communications front I fully recognise the valuable contribution which marine VHF communications facilities can make to improving the safety of life at sea and considerable progress has in fact been made in recent years in this area.
A VHF station was built in County Donegal and commissioned in 1983. This station, which is remotely controlled from Malin Head Coast Radio Station, provides full cover from west of Tory Island along the northern coastline of Donegal, eastward and northward towards the Scottish coast.
Two new VHF stations were commissioned early in 1985, one each in Counties Cork and Kerry. The stations are remotely controlled from Valentia Coast Radio Station and between them provide distress, safety and public correspondence communications over an area of coastline stretching from Loop Head to Seven Heads near Kinsale. In addition, a trial station has been brought into operation at Dublin Airport which provides for emergency and distress communications over the coast from Carlingford Lough to Wicklow Head. Extension of the system to other areas in the State will be considered in the light of the financial resources available from time to time.
I should begin by disclosing an interest in this matter. With regard to the particular matter of a radio communications network could I ask the Minister would he not accept that such a network on the west coast in particular is absolutely essential from the point of view of maritime safety? In fact it distresses me a little to hear him say — I think he used the words in this reply —"make a contribution toward". Would he not agree, if we are serious about marine safety, particularly in so far as our fishing fleet is concerned, that an adequate, complete and comprehensive radio network along the coast is essential? Furthermore, would he agree that this matter has been very tragically underlined for us all by the frequency of tragedies which have occurred vis-à-vis our fishing fleet along that coast even in very recent times?
The Deputy's interest in this matter is well known. I certainly very much appreciate his comments in relation to what is needed in this respect. He can be assured that there has been progress made in providing a radio communications network around the coast. It would be my ambition that we reach a stage as soon as possible of having full coastal cover in radio communications. While I do not think there is any significant risk to safety at present it would be better that we have such a system. Certainly I share the Deputy's ambition that all of our coasts be covered.
Perhaps the Minister has already done so and, if so, he might inform us but if he has not would he take an overview of this whole situation in regard to maritime safety? In that connection many of us are deeply concerned at the decision taken by Irish Lights to de-man a number of lighthouses along that coast, to proceed with a programme of automation which will mean in effect that the west and south coasts will have no effective coastal watch. This is related to the subject matter of Question No. 3 because all of these matters should be inter-related and considered together. I ask the Minister to give us, if he can, some view on whether his Department are having a comprehensive look at all elements of a maritime safety programme — lighthouses, lifeboats, radio networks and so on. The Minister might agree that the time for such a comprehensive review is now, particularly in view of this decision taken to de-man lighthouses, a decision which was taken on purely commercial grounds without any regard to its implications in a number of areas, particularly maritime safety?
I am not sure the Deputy is correct when he says that the decision in relation to the lighthouses was taken purely on commercial grounds. Of course there were commercial considerations but I have no doubt that the Commissioners of Irish Lights are fully conscious of the safety requirements; indeed that is their very purpose in life. I am quite sure that anything they have done will in no way jeopardise safety at sea. I wonder whether there is much value in having a coastguard or coast watch of the type mentioned by the Deputy. They do have such in some other countries, especially where there is a high volume of shipping close to the coast. We do not have that here. It was never intended that the lighthouse men should be watchers. Indeed, their visual range would not stretch very far so the area of sea covered by any such watch would be minimal. Nonetheless, because the funding of Irish Lights has been reviewed recently and because its future administration is under review — because of those new funding arrangements — probably it is appropriate to consider the points raised by Deputy Haughey. I can assure him that they will be considered in the light of that revised administration.
With regard to the VHF network would the Minister agree that it is a matter of some urgency that the area between the Malin Head VHF area — which, as the Minister said, runs from West Donegal in a north eastern direction towards Scotland — and the southern VHF coverage, that dangerous area, particularly Mayo/Galway, along the west coast, should be covered because there has been a weakness obtaining there for some time?
My aspiration would be to have the entire coast covered by radio communications in due course. Obviously we have to order priorities and pick the areas of our coasts where there is more business going on, where there may be more danger. But my aspiration would be that we would have the entire coast covered in due course.
The west coast is the most dangerous and the frequency of fishing accidents has proved that.
I think the Deputy is correct, but it is also the least busy in terms of volume of traffic.
The Minister does not appear to recognise the seriousness of the circumstances we are highlighting here. Could he give us some indication of the expenditure in this area by his Department, for the current year? Furthermore, would he say whether he has contact with the Minister for Fisheries because he must be aware that the Fisheries Consultative Sectoral Committee have recommended the immediate installation of a VHF network because of the danger to fishing boats in particular? Can the Minister satisfy us that further threats, such as the removal of the Decca signal, will not create a further hazard? The Minister must be aware that there have been various allegations to the effect that navigational aids have not been in operation? Can he give us some indication of what inspections are carried out to ensure that such aids are fully operational and working effectively?
With regard to the question about expenditure, I do not have that information to hand. If the Deputy tables a question I shall be pleased to answer it.
Can the Minister give us an approximate idea of how much is spent on this matter?
I want to assure the Deputy that I am satisfied the radio communications network at present is adequate. There is absolutely no cause for alarm with regard to safety. Regular inspections are carried out to ensure that the equipment is working. Furthermore, progress is being made in extending the VHF network, which progress will continue.
Can the Minister indicate whether he has had any consultations or communications with the Minister for Fisheries in this regard because it would appear that the latter Minister is more concerned about this matter?
There are regular contacts on marine matters between my Department and the Department of Fisheries, and these contacts will continue.
Can the Minister give us some indication of the amount of money his Department will spend on the improvement of the system this year?
Question No. 4 is gone for written reply. I am calling Question No. 5.
