Vol. 482 No. 7
1 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the steps, if any, he has taken to improve the safety of the Irish fishing fleet in view of the facts presented by the Report of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group which stated that 64 per cent of the vessels inspected suffered serious deficiencies. [19193/97]
I am committed to implementing the recommendations and objectives of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group, having due regard to availability of required resources. A number of important steps have already been taken to improve fishing vessel safety on foot of the report of the review group.
I announced at the end of October an £11 million investment in the modernisation of the Irish fleet. This involved some £3.0 million in EU grant aid for 112 fleet modernisation projects under Ireland's Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-99. This investment is aimed primarily at the whitefish fleet to enhance safety on board vessels and will help maximise the return to fishermen and maintain jobs in the sector.
I am working to put in place, with EU agreement, a pilot grant aid scheme for a number of new whitefish vessels. I am also pursuing all other options that will promote investment in the fleet including making the industry attractive to providers of capital by examining the scope for the provision of fiscal incentives.
In addition, agreement has been essentially secured on Ireland's national programme under the EU Fleet Programme 1997-2002, MGP IV. The MGP IV Programme for Ireland provides that safety improvements may be excluded, on a case by case basis, from vessel tonnage calculations for the purposes of the programme. This will ensure that vessel owners are not penalised for making safety improvements to their vessels.
There have also been significant developments in the crucial safety training area and the Department has been working closely with BIM concerning the establishment of new and more accessible training facilities. BIM has launched two mobile coastal training units which will bring training in the safe operation of fishing vessels to strategic locations around the coast. In addition, BIM is in the process of establishing a new fisheries training facility at Castletownbere to service the south coast region. BIM has also recruited three additional professional training staff who are specialising in the provision of safety skills instruction. These additional training resources strengthen BIM's overall programme to significantly improve the safety competence of fishing vessel crews.
The review group identified the absence of mandatory social insurance cover for fishermen as the cause of many trained deckhands leaving the fishing fleet. This situation has since been addressed and share fishermen now qualify for full PRSI cover.
Having regard to onshore marine radio communications, the Department has recently installed new medium frequency transmitters at Belmullet and Rosslare which will enhance radio coverage and improve emergency response to fishing vessels operating off the north west coast and in the Irish Sea. In addition, it is proposed to instal VHF digital selective calling equipment at Irish Marine Emergency Service coast radio stations.
On the subject of search and rescue, a new medium lift helicopter is to be provided on the eastern seaboard. Tenders for the helicopter are currently being evaluated by the Department and I expect this important facility to be in place on 1 July next. The all weather night flying Dauphin helicopter currently based at Baldonnel will then be relocated to a base on the south or south east coast. These two measures will significantly enhance search and rescue coverage, thereby contributing to the safety of the fishing fleet off the east and south coasts.
The Department is currently putting in place the necessary administrative and technical staffing resources to enable the drafting of comprehensive new safety regulations recommended by the review group. These regulations will cover fishing vessel construction and equipment, the carriage of specified radio equipment and increased training and manning requirements.
The recruitment of three additional marine surveyors is at an advanced stage and it is hoped they will be appointed by the end of the year. A further additional marine radio surveyor is also being recruited. As well as providing vital technical assistance in the drafting of the safety regulations, the surveyors will also be involved in the implementation of a strict enforcement regime which will include regular structural surveys and safety equipment inspections for fishing vessels.
A new Fishing Vessel Safety Management Committee is currently being established to oversee the implementation of an overall safety programme for the sea fishing sector. A new specialised Fishing Vessel Safety Unit is also currently being set up in the Department. This unit will support the work of the committee, facilitate the development of a co-ordinated safety strategy and liaise with surveyors in the drafting of comprehensive safety regulations for the industry.
The Department is currently developing a safety awareness campaign which will attempt to highlight safety issues particularly relevant to fishermen. A new series of safety brochures entitled "Safety on the Water" were published earlier this year by the Department's Marine Safety Working Group. One of these booklets deals specifically with fishing vessel machinery failure which has been identified by the rescue services as the main cause of emergency incidents involving fishing vessels. Copies of this useful booklet have been circulated to the skippers of all fishing vessels on the register for distribution to their crews.
The implementation of the comprehensive safety programme for the sea fishing sector will necessarily involve ongoing consultation with the industry, which has a vitally important part to play in developing a safety culture among fishermen. The Department has recently been in contact with the representative organisations in the fishing industry with a view to arranging an early meeting to discuss the ongoing implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group.
My question was influenced by a series of unfortunate accidents involving trawlers between 1 January 1990 and 31 August 1997 which resulted in 33 fatalities. We all regret the unfortunate tragedy in 1995 when six people were lost on the Carrickatine. The steps the Minister intends to take on the safety of vessels are welcome, but will he agree that part of the problem affecting our fishing fleet is the profitability for the catchers. The people making a great deal of money in the fishing industry are the processors and the distributors. The catchers do not appear to have the finance to upgrade their vessels. In a policy document Fianna Fáil said it will examine the possibility of equipping all fishing vessels with some form of electronic locating device. That is a valid commitment.
With regard to vessels under 24 metres, and the vast majority are in that category, will the Minister agree there is some validity in the State giving the maximum assistance to fishermen to provide basic safety equipment such as electronic locating devices? If fishermen do not have the financial resources to upgrade their vessels, it is absolutely vital that the State helps them. Will the Minister outline his policy on safety improvements for the future? Also, will he comment on the decision taken by Bord Iascaigh Mhara in 1993, as a result of the resignation of an instructor, with regard to a coastal unit to provide fishing training facilities for fishermen?
I mentioned in the reply that at the end of October I announced an £11 million investment for the modernisation of our fishing fleet. That money will go mainly towards providing the safety measures mentioned by the Deputy. It will mean a substantial injection of funds, with EU assistance, into this area. It will provide aid for 112 fleet modernisation projects under the Operational Programme. I am concerned about the question of further assistance for that area and I will do all I can to find the necessary moneys.
As a result of recent meetings in Luxembourg, instead of having to reduce our fleet it is almost certain we will be able to maintain it at approximately its current level. Some £4 million was set aside for decommissioning. That money will be available and I will dedicate it to this area. That will give a further fillip in this respect. At present some £6 million of EU aid is not committed to the fleet under the programme. I will review the priorities to ensure we get the best return in terms of upgrading and modernising the fleet from the point of view of the grant aid available. A major boost was given to this area the week before last during negotiations in Brussels. That will enable me to increase the amount of money for this area by approximately £4 million.
I welcome the aid for the modernisation of our 112 vessels and the emphasis that will be placed on safety measures. I remind the Minister that 44 per cent of our fleet is more than 25 years old. Will the modernisation of our fleet be concentrated on the newer vessels and to what degree will it percolate to the 44 per cent of the fleet that is more than 25 years old?
The Deputy might remember we announced the introduction of a pilot scheme under which four new vessels would begin to tackle this problem. We have had some success in our discussions with the European Union and the Commission in that regard. I expect we will be able to provide assistance for more than the four we promised. I will consider this matter from different points of view. I accept the Deputy's point. That pilot programme was introduced as an initial step. I cannot say at this stage how much beyond it we can go, but the position will be improved.
