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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1990

Vol. 402 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Fishery Patrol Vessels.

I am very concerned about the report which appeared in the Sunday Tribune this week, which indicates that the boats being used by fishery officers are unsuitable for the task of sea patrol and that these boats should be withdrawn. This report goes on to state:

for operations which involve proceeding to sea (that is beyond the limits of smooth and/or partially smooth waters) and up to twelve miles offshore, either for short or lengthy patrol duties, semi-rigid inflatable or open boats are not considered suitable, either singly or in company with other craft of the same or similar type.

One feature of the tragic occurrence off Ballycotton on 7 July last is the question mark which still hangs over the particular boat used on that fateful day in which four officers lost their lives. I have continuously requested the Department to make every effort to locate this boat and to try to ascertain the full facts regarding this tragedy. I acknowledge the fact that three searches were made, two by the Naval Service and one by the Celtic Diving Company. It is unfortunate that two of those searches were carried out in a region not relevant to the area where the boat foundered while the third search was carried out, for a short time, in an area where equipment from the ill-fated boat was found, but again without success. I suggest that, given fair weather conditions, this search should be resumed given the fact that the exact location has been pinpointed. I note the Minister indicated in his answer to Private Notice Questions on 10 July last, that it was very important to identify where the boat is and recover it.

The report which has been circulated by the Department to the fishery boards recognises that the boats being used are completely unsuitable. Furthermore, the open boat used that day had been, apparently, modified which could conceivably have affected its buoyancy. I have been led to believe that these fibre-glass boats have ballast tanks built into them to enable them keep afloat in the event of an accident or emergency but in this case this did not happen and the question which must be asked is why did this safety measure not operate. It appears that when the boat foundered it sank instantly.

I attended the inquest last week into the deaths of the four fishery officers in Middleton and two very important points arose during the course of the evidence. One of the witnesses, a seaman from the Eleanor Rose, a fishery boat from Ballycotton, stated that when they were hailed by the fishery patrol boat he noticed the boat was very low by the stern. One must remember that two heavy outboard motors were attached to this open fibre-glass boat.

The other important point is that the jury saw fit to add a rider that these boats should not put to sea again until such time as a full review is carried out concerning all aspects of fishery patrols. This must be a very important factor taking into consideration the contents of the leaked confidential report. I acknowledge that shortly after the tragedy the Minister issued an instruction that all patrols by the fishery boards be stopped. It is to the Minister's credit that he acted so swiftly in this matter.

The boat used in the Ballycotton tragedy was a 21-foot glass fibre boat which was a replacement for the new Sea Rider dinghy which had been sabotaged. While these Sea Riders are modern and fast with built-in safety features, it appears from the Department's report that these boats are unsuitable for fishery patrol duties at sea unless accompanied by a larger vessel or mother ship. It would appear that these boats are suitable only for inshore rescue, a task which is very efficiently done by the RNLI, but not for the duties of fishery patrol which necessitate the taking of nets from the sea, sometimes in very rough weather.

I realise there is an inquiry pending and I have no wish to pre-empt the outcome. Nevertheless the publication of part of this confidential report raises serious questions concerning the safety of fisheries officers.

As the Deputy will recall, I ordered in early July last, following the tragic loss of four officers of the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board, that an investigation should be conducted into that tragedy. I announced on 17 August last that I had directed the fisheries boards to undertake immediately an urgent review of equipment, personnel, training procedures and vessels used for deep water patrols to ensure the highest possible safety levels. I also indicated on that occasion that I had directed the marine surveyors of my Department to provide such technical assistance as the boards might require in the conduct of this review and in ensuring the application of the safest possible operational procedures.

I am awaiting the results of that review. I am assured that pending the results of the review the boards are taking a precautionary approach and that the interests of safety are being accorded paramount importance. When I receive the results of the review I shall consider the implications and take whatever decisions are required. I shall inform the House on these matters as appropriate. I am not prepared to comment in any way at this time on any documents reported to be leaked.

As a separate matter the Deputy will be aware that I have directed that a formal investigation should be held into the Ballycotton tragedy. Arrangements for the conduct of the investigation are in hand. I would ask Deputies and other commentators to show restraint on this topic as the relatives of the deceased in this tragic case have already suffered enough.

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