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Marine Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2013

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Questions (217)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

217. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a permanent passenger boat licence of a class P2 passenger boat will issue to a person (details given) in County Cork in replacement of an interim licence issued on the 11 August 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/13]

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Written answers

An application for a passenger boat licence for the vessel in question is being held by the Marine Survey Office of my Department as the vessel holds a current fishing licence issued by the Sea Fisheries Administration of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine.

  The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport fulfils the role as the safety regulator for all maritime transport in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine fulfils the role as the economic regulator for fishing. These two roles are quite distinctive and separate and it is important that decisions relating to the regulation of maritime safety transportation are made in the interests of ensuring the safety of the travelling public.

Unfortunately, in the past there have been tragedies where fishing vessels were used to carry passengers. The two uses are very different and incompatible.  The arrangement and equipment of the vessels is different as well as the need for different crew qualifications. Because the use of fishing vessels for passenger transport does raise important safety issues, special consideration is required for any such proposed use. This Department has determined that it may be possible for a fishing vessel to carry passengers but to do so the fishing license must be suspended and the vessel undergo a passenger boat safety survey for compliance with the statutory requirements to ensure the safety of the travelling public.

It is suggested that the fishing vessel owner contact the Sea Fisheries Administration to enquire whether the vessel would be eligible for a temporary suspension of the fishing licence to allow for the change of use to a passenger boat. When this process is completed he should then contact the Marine Survey Office of my Department regarding the issue of a passenger boat licence.

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