Vol. 514 No. 3
59 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will ensure that the monitoring and regulation of rail safety is totally independent of any person or body whose interests could conflict with these functions; and if these functions are comparable to the investigative role of the proposed Marine Casualty Investigation Board currently outlined in the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Bill, 1999. [4162/00]
Last December I outlined the broad parameters of a new regulatory framework for rail safety, which included the establishment on a statutory basis of an independent railway safety inspectorate. While there is still a lot of detailed work to be done on this regulatory framework, I broadly agree with the sentiment implicit in the Deputy's question, that there should be no conflict of interest inherent in the new framework.
It is too early at this stage to say if the functions of the inspectorate will be comparable to the investigative functions of the proposed marine casualty investigation board. The main function of that board will be to investigate and report on marine accidents. However, I did indicate in December that I envisaged the inspectorate having broadly equivalent powers to the Health and Safety Authority.
While the railway safety inspectorate will have a far wider remit than just accident investigation, the position in the marine sector, and indeed in other transport sectors, is being examined by my officials as part of their work in developing the new rail safety framework.
