Vol. 530 No. 2
4 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of persons drowned or lost from fishing vessels in Irish waters during the year 2000; the steps which are being taken to ensure higher safety standards and to prevent unnecessary loss of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3361/01]
First, I extend my sympathy to all those who were bereaved as a result of accidents involving fishing vessels last year. Eighteen persons were lost or drowned from fishing vessels in Irish territorial waters in the year 2000. Of these, six were lost from Irish registered vessels while the remaining 12 were lost from a British registered fishing vessel which sank in waters off the west coast of Ireland. A further two persons were lost from Irish registered fishing vessels outside our territorial waters. While no precise records are available for crew losses from foreign flagged fishing vessels operating outside the territorial waters off the Irish coast, it is known that a further eight persons, one of whom was Irish, lost their lives in accidents involving such vessels in the year 2000. Under international maritime law, it is the responsibility of the flag state to carry out investigations into marine casualties involving their vessels.
I assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring the highest safety standards are maintained in the industry. This can only be achieved by a three-pronged approach comprising statutory regulation and enforcement, promotion of safety awareness, and the highest quality marine emergency services.
My Department's priority has been to implement the recommendations and objectives of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group (FVSRG) The Fishing Vessel Safety Implementation Group, established in 1999, concluded that considerable progress had been made in the areas of introducing new radio regulations, safety training, onshore marine radio communications, fleet modernisation and safety awareness. Regulations were also introduced to give effect to the Torremolinos Convention on fishing vessels over 24 metres and work is well advanced on draft regulations for smaller sizes of fishing boats which have been the subject of consultation with the industry. In addition £200,000 was spent last year to establish a network of offshore weather and research buoys which will do much to improve weather forecasting and safety at sea. A further £300,000 has been provided in my Department's vote this year. On 28 January 2001, I announced my intention to put in place new legislation which will see the introduction of mandatory safety training and mandatory wearing of suitable personal flotation devices for fishermen in Ireland.
Additional Information.An ongoing campaign of safety awareness is undertaken in conjunction with a number of State agencies and other bodies such as the RNLI. A group, known as the Marine Safety Working Group, comprising members of all these interested agencies and bodies meets regularly to co-ordinate efforts in this regard and initiatives undertaken include the publication and national distribution of a number of booklets and posters in the “Safety on the Water” series. In addition the Implementation Group has agreed that arrangements should be made in conjunction with the Marine Safety Working Group for a publicity campaign to highlight safety issues in the fishing industry.
Finally, the development of a comprehensive safety programme for the sea fishing sector involves ongoing consultation with the fishing industry, which has a vitally important part to play in developing a safety culture among fishermen. A formal liaison process, which is working very well, has been established between the implementation group and the industry.
We are all concerned about the number of deaths last year, the highest on record. I note that on 28 January the Minister issued a statement in relation to trawler safety in which he indicated that he intended to introduce legislation to give statutory and mandatory effect to all safety aspects of the industry. When is it intended to introduce that legislation, and will it be done by way of legislation, regulation or amendment of an existing Act? Will it be mandatory for the industry to implement whatever measures the Minister introduces?
We are currently in consultation with the industry and with the various safety authorities. It is my intention to introduce that legislation as quickly as possible. It should be ready fairly quickly, but getting legislation into the Dáil is difficult. I cannot, therefore, be definitive as to when it is likely to be introduced in the Dáil. It is my intention to give statutory status to the regulations and to make them mandatory. That will apply to the wearing of life jackets and also, possibly, to the training of people coming into the industry.
Is the Minister satisfied that the necessary training facilities are available and that the industry is using them for training crews, particularly in respect of safety measures?
I am satisfied that the necessary training programmes and facilities are available. BIM is doing very good work in training schools such as those in Greencastle and Castletownbere. However, I am concerned by the number of young people with no training who come into the industry and go out to sea. I would strongly urge skippers not to employ people who have no training. There is no question that their abilities are impaired in difficult conditions. On a personal note, since I have been in this job, I have had occasion to visit a number of widows whose husbands were lost at sea. As one who knew little about fishing before I came into this job, it was a most difficult experience. Most Irish people do not understand the very difficult life of fishermen who have lost so many of their loved ones at sea. It is a very difficult situation that the rest of us take for granted.
