Vol. 474 No. 6
297 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the status of the Irish investigation in relation to the sinking of the Orchidee and the subsequent judicial process in France and the reason given by him in the past that the delay in completing the Irish investigation was due to the fact that proceedings in France were ongoing; when the investigation will be renewed; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3512/97]
Following a sustained diplomatic effort over the past four years by the Irish authorities, including myself and officials from my Department as well as officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in Paris, the French authorities finally completed their investigation which resulted in legal proceedings being brought against the skipper and one of the crewmen of the French vessel involved in the collision. These proceedings concluded on 27 September 1996 at the maritime tribunal at Lorient when both men were found guilty of negligence for their part in the sinking of the Orchidee. They were sentenced to one year and to three months imprisonment, respectively. Both sentences were suspended for five years on the strict condition that no further offences of any sort were committed.
My Department is awaiting a report on the proceedings of the maritime tribunal from the French authorities. Once this is received, the Department's own investigation into this accident, which had necessarily been suspended because of the French legal action, will be completed and a report made available, subject to normal legal considerations.
