Vol. 538 No. 2
41 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the planned independent marine casualty investigation board, as provided for in the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000, will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17400/01]
I am hopeful that I will soon be in a position to establish the marine casualty investigation board under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000 as work on securing the necessary administrative supports for the new board is well advanced in my Department. The primary purpose of the Act is to provide for the enactment of a new legislative and procedural regime to regulate the entire area of marine casualty investigation in Ireland which will replace the system established in 1894. A key provision of the Act is the establishment of an independent marine casualty investigation board with enhanced powers to investigate marine casualties and to publish reports within a specified timetable.
