Vol. 465 No. 3
252 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Marine the reason there was a delay in reporting as missing at sea a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; the reason this matter was not reported at Pembroke; the steps if any, that have been taken to establish what happened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9597/96]
I am advised that when it was noticed that the crewman concerned was missing at about 23.15 p.m. on the evening of 19 September 1994, an initial search of the vessel was undertaken by the crew at the direction of the Master. The vessel departed from Pembroke at 2.45 a.m. on 20 September, and the view on board at that stage was that the individual was still on board. A second fuller and more complete search of the vessel was subsequently undertaken, which proved to be unsuccessful.
Following the docking of the vessel at Rosslare, the disappearance of the person was reported to the Garda in Wexford who, in turn, notified the Police at Pembroke.
The coastguard at Milford Haven in Wales initiated a sea and air search at first light which was terminated later the same afternoon without success, having failed to locate the missing person.
Investigations into the disappearance of an individual in these circumstances are the exclusive responsibility of the Garda authorities, whose investigations I understand are still ongoing.
