Written Answers. - Marine Safety.
Finian McGrath
Question:
804
Mr. F. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are still thousands of men, women and children not wearing life-jackets while using boats and other water based activities; and when action will be taken to improve this dangerous situation.
[15783/02]
The legislative framework governing the use of personal floatation devices or life-jackets on pleasure craft, was provided for in an amendment to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1992, as part of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000, which was enacted on 27 June 2000.
Following the enactment of this legislative framework, an initial set of regulations governing the safe use of personal watercraft – jet skis – fast power craft and other mechanically propelled pleasure craft was introduced. Known as the Merchant Shipping (Mechanically Propelled Pleasure Craft) (Safety) Regulations, 2001, they contain the following provisions in relation to personal floatation devices or life-jackets: there must be sufficient personal floatation devices or life-jack ets on board a mechanically propelled pleasure craft for each person on board; a person under 16 years old must wear a personal floatation device or life-jacket at all times while on the deck of a mechanically propelled pleasure craft, that is, a craft which is not an open mechanically propelled pleasure craft, except when the craft is made fast to the shore; and a person must wear a personal floatation device or life-jacket at all times while being towed by a mechanically propelled pleasure craft or while on board a vessel specifically designed to be towed or an object of any kind – this will cover "bananas, doughnuts" etc. – which is being towed by such a craft.
New legislation last year, namely the Fishing Vessel (Personal Flotation Devices) Regulations, 2001, also saw the introduction of the mandatory wearing of suitable personal floatation devices for commercial fishermen. This legislation requires fishermen to wear personal floatation devices while on the deck of fishing vessels.
My Department has also recently published comprehensive regulations for passenger boats, the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Boat) Regulations, 2002. These provide that passenger boats shall carry an approved life-jacket or approved personal flotation device for each person the passenger boat is licensed to carry. In certain types of boats, every person shall wear an approved life-jacket or approved personal flotation device at all times whilst on board. These regulations will come in to effect in January 2003.
I have recently announced a review of current safety measures for small watercraft with a view to bringing forward practical and effective measures to improve safety at sea. This review, undertaken by my Department's maritime safety directorate, will examine the requirement to wear life-jackets, whether the wearing of life-jackets or suitable personal floatation devices should be made mandatory on certain types of craft, the licensing requirements, enforcement, spot checks and improved safety awareness. My Department and I are committed to safety on the water and I feel that this review will accelerate our progress on this important issue.
