Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 6

Written Answers. - Marine Accidents.

Austin Deasy

Question:

37 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will re-open the inquiry into the deaths of fishery officers at Ballycotton; and the consideration, if any, he will give to the Kirwan report in conjunction with the inquiries set up. [14303/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

A full formal investigation into this tragic accident was carried out by a district justice with two nautical assessors under section 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and Captain Kirwan's report was available to the investigation team. The report of this formal investigation was published on 17 July 1991. I have no plans to re-open the investigation.

I should mention that I decided, when Minister for the Marine in 1992, that all future reports on marine accident inquiries should be published and that is now established policy.

I have also recently obtained Government approval to the general scheme of a Bill to establish an independent marine casualty investigation board with enhanced powers to investigate marine casualties and to publish expeditiously reports of the board's findings. The general scheme is with the parliamentary draftsman's office to draft the Bill with a view to its introduction in the Oireachtas.