Vol. 410 No. 1
14 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline, in respect of each of the past five years, the number of fishermen from (a) Irish vessels and (b) foreign vessels in Irish waters who were drowned at sea; if he has satisfied himself that safety procedures on fishing vessels are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Limerick West): The precise information requested by the Deputy is not available from my Department's records. I propose, however, to circulate in the Official Report a statement compiled by the Central Statistics Office from their vital statistics returns which relates most closely to the information sought. The qualifications surrounding the data are set out in the footnotes to the statement.
Current legislation regarding safety of fishing vessels is contained in the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894-1983, and in rules and regulations made thereunder. These cover safety equipment to be carried by a fishing boat, registration of fishing boats, manning and certification of crews, provision of radio installations and safety of navigation.
As Minister with overall responsibility for the safety of life at sea I am anxious to have legislation enacted which will enhance the regulation of the safety of fishing vessels. The Government have now approved the draft heads of the Merchant Shipping Bill which contains enabling provisions for a substantial amount of secondary legislation, including the regulation of fishing vessels. The text of the Bill is at present being finalised in conjunction with the parliamentary draftsman. I will shortly be seeking the recommendations of the fishing industry and other water users on regulations to be made under the Bill when it is enacted.
Following is the statement:
Statement Compiled by Central Statistics Office.
Number of deaths caused by drowning in water transport accidents where occupation of deceased was registered as fisherman or farm labourer.
|
1986 |
10 |
|
1987 |
7 |
|
1988 |
1 |
|
1989 |
7 |
|
1990 |
10 |
Notes:
(1) The above deaths relate to accidents to watercraft causing drowning and to other accidental drowings in water transport accidents (Codes E830 and E832 of the International Classification of Diseases — ICD ninth revision);
(2) The socio-economic group fishermen and farm labourers, used in registering deaths, is the closest approximating that of fishermen.
I am shocked by the Minister of State's reply. Does it not display an appalling attitude to and neglect of the issue of safety of fishermen at sea that the Minister of State at the Department of the Marine is not in a position to tell us — he has told us that his Department do not have the information — how many fishermen were lost at sea during the past five years? Surely any Minister who is concerned about the safety of fishermen would have this information and be able to give it to the House. May I ask the Minister of State what measures are being taken to cover the safety of fishing vessels smaller than those covered by the existing Merchant Shipping Acts and to say if he intends to ratify the Torremolinos Convention in the legislation that he proposes to introduce in the House?
The Deputy is introducing extraneous matter.
(Limerick West): Let me say in reply to the first part of the Deputy's question that deaths are not notifiable to the Department.
If the Minister of State had any interest he would know the figure.
(Limerick West): My Department do not record the figures. Indeed, the figures that are available include deaths other than those of fishermen. Therefore, the specific information required by the Deputy is not readily available. It is wrong to say that we are not concerned about safety at sea. Indeed, the legislation which is now being prepared will cover the points made by the Deputy in his supplementary question.
Is the Minister of State satisfied that the safety standards are being adhered to at present and that resources are being made available to vessels of this State and independent fishing vessels? Are sufficient staff available to monitor the implementation of safety procedures?
(Limerick West): There are. The merchant shipping life saving appliances rules, 1983, make it a requirement that fishing vessels carry life saving appliances. These rules prescribe the number of lifeboats or life rafts, lifebuoys, lifejackets, line-throwing appliances and distress signals to be carried on fishing vessels, depending on the length of the vessel. They also lay down detailed technical specifications for the above-mentioned life-saving appliances, for the emergency equipment to be carried in lifeboats and in life rafts and for stowage of life-saving appliances. Provision is also made for the annual servicing of inflatable life rafts at approved servicing stations. The statutory requirements relating to the fire-fighting equipment to be carried by fishing vessels are set out in the Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Rules, 1967 and 1983 and the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Rules, 1985. There are ample statutory requirements and these are fully implemented and monitored by inspectors of my Department. We have sufficient personnel.
Will the Minister state the approximate number of occasions last year on which safety inspections of fishing vessels were carried out by his Department and give some indication as to the availability on fishing vessels of safety and rescue gear?
(Limerick West): Inspections are carried out on a constant basis.
How many last year?
(Limerick West): I cannot give such detail now. If the Deputy puts down a specific question I will give a specific answer. The statutory requirement is that they be inspected on a regular basis. I will let the Deputy have the information.
