Vol. 402 No. 5
15 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine if, in view of the tragedy off Ballycotton, County Cork in which four fishery officers lost their lives, he will give an assurance that the fisheries boards will have sufficient funding to provide adequate, modern safety equipment including survival suits, in order to ensure that a higher standard of safety is observed.
On 17 August last I announced that I had directed the fisheries boards to undertake immediately an urgent review of equipment, including personal safety equipment, personnel, training, procedures and vessels used in 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 may require in the conduct of this review and in ensuring the application of the safest possible operational procedures. I await 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, including those relating to funding, that are required. I shall inform the House on these matters as appropriate.
As spokesperson for the Marine I should like to offer my congratulations to the Minister on his appointment as Tánaiste. Will the Minister agree that the equipment which has been used by fishery officers up to now was inadequate, a fact that was highlighted by the evidence given at the in-quest? I am asking for adequate funding to be given immediately to the fisheries boards because it appears that they did not have adequate finance to provide that equipment. Will the Minister agree that adequate funding should be given to the fisheries boards? I do not wish to preempt any inquiry but I ask him to agree that up to now there has not been adequate financing of the fisheries boards.
No, I do not agree. If the Deputy examines the Book of Estimates for 1990 he will see that a very substantial increase in the funding for the fisheries boards was provided by me.
Financing may have been made available to the fisheries boards, however, I am specifically referring to safety equipment. I am trying to highlight the fact that the safety equipment used by the board was not adequate and that is why I am asking the Minister to provide specific funding for safety equipment such as boats, survival suits or whatever is necessary.
Pending the formal investigation to be held by a district justice, I do not accept that any statement can be made about the safety equipment. When I say I have provided increased financing for the regional fisheries boards I mean that it is available to them to spend on any of the various activities — including that mentioned by the Deputy — for which they are responsible.
Surely it is the Minister's responsibility to see that adequate safety precautions are taken and adhered to?
I accept that that is the case and the first paragraph of my reply indicated how seriously I take it.
We will now deal with other questions.
