John Browne
Question:268 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Marine when the report into the accident at Great Island, Wexford in which two men lost their lives will be completed; and whether this report will be made public. [5460/96]
Written Answers. - Great Island (Wexford) Shipping Accident.
Following the capsizing of the tug boat New Ross 1 on 8 August 1995, in which two men tragically lost their lives, I appointed a marine surveyor from my Department to report on the causes of this accident to me. This investigation is being carried out pursuant to section 728 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. It is envisaged that a full report into this accident will be completed within the next three months. It is my intention that a report will be published, subject to legal considerations, in due course. It is not possible at this stage, however, to state precisely how long the legal processing of the report for publication will take, but I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to expedite this matter.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sympathy to the relatives of the two men who lost their lives and assure them that the full resources of my Department will be used to establish the causes of this tragic accident.