Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:203 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for the Marine when he intends to implement the recommendations of the vessel safety review group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5383/97]
Written Answers - Fishing Vessel Safety.
A new national strategy on fishing vessel safety is currently being finalised in the Department of the Marine. I hope to shortly be in a position to announce details of the measures to be taken to implement this new policy which will draw on the recommendations and objectives of the review group. The proposed new strategy will aim to achieve fundamental improvements in the safety culture and standards of the sea fishing sector with the objective of avoiding, as far as possible, fishing vessel accidents and especially the loss of life at sea.
The Deputy will be aware that a number of the review group's recommendations are already being implemented, particularly in relation to training, safety awareness and on-shore radio-communications. I was pleased to see that my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare, recently announced that share fishermen will, in future, qualify for full PRSI. The absence of mandatory social insurance cover for fishermen was identified by the review group as the cause of many trained deckhands leaving the fishing fleet.