Jim O'Keeffe
Question:24 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine whether fishing officers patrolling our rivers and lakes are adequately resourced and protected in discharging their duties, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fishery Officers' Protection.
Following the Ballycotton tragedy the central and regional fisheries boards were directed by my predecessor, the Tánaiste, to undertake a review of their operations to ensure the highest safety levels. The review covered all areas of the boards activities, including patrols of rivers and lakes.
In the light of the findings of the safety review and the recommendations of the Ballycotton report measures have been taken by the fisheries boards to improve the safety of their staff. Specifically, in relation to staff on river and lake work, both protection and development, the following improvements have been made: (1) making standard the wearing of dry suits and life jackets and the purchase and supply of this equipment to all staff; (2) modifications to the boats used on lake and river work to provide positive buoyancy; (3) the operating procedures for boat work on lakes and rivers now require that the staff must maintain radio contact with shore and the necessary communications equipment has been purchased and provided for the staff and (4) the training of staff in such areas as sea survival, first aid and radio communications and the provision of training courses is ongoing as necessary.
These measures, together with others taken in regard to sea patrols have been implemented at a cost of £450,000 to the boards. Additional moneys have been provided in the 1992 allocation for the boards for the purchase of extra semirigid inflatable boats to enable these boats to be operated on the lines recommended by the Ballycotton report which found this type of vessel to be suitable for the task in hand.
I am satisfied that these measures have ensured that fisheries boards' staff have the necessary facilities to enable them to attend to their duties as effectively as possible having due regard to their personal safety.
The recommendation in the Ballycotton report that fisheries officers should have the same protection under the law as gardaí and that the same penalties should apply to anyone assaulting them is under consideration by my Department in consultation with the central board. The Deputy will appreciate that such a change would entail significant changes in the law and the issues involved must be clearly assessed.
There is a greater appreciation in our community now of the role of fisheries boards' staff and the hazardous nature of their duties, as a result of the Ballycotton report. I am pleased to note that a member of the District Court recently reflected the serious view taken by the court in relation to assaults on fisheries officers when dealing with such a case in County Cork.