Trevor Sargent
Question:110 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine the background, structure and aims of the National Ferry Safety Committee with particular reference to the role, if any, of the social partners on this body.
Written Answers. - National Ferry Safety Committee.
A review of the safety aspects of passenger ferry transport has been continuing since 1987 when the National Ferry Safety Committee — NFSC — was established. The Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in that year had highlighted deficiencies in safety procedures onboard passenger ferries. The committee is chaired by the Department's Chief Surveyor and includes senior technical representatives from all the ferry companies operating into Irish ports. The committee reviews safety procedures and standards on board Irish registered ferries, considers any measures necessary to improve safety and makes recommendations, as appropriate to the ferry operators and to the Department. The NFSC is a technical safety committee in which the social partners do not have a function.