Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
614. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he proposes to co-operate with the request from the Northern Ireland Coroner (details supplied) to reinvestigate the sinking of the FV Strath Marie off Inishowen Head, County Donegal, on 14 March 2008 which resulted in the deaths of two brothers, Daniel and Francis McDaid. [15102/13]
View answerUnder Section 8 of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is established as being independent of the Minister in the performance of its functions and, in general, is independent of any other person or body whose interests could conflict with the functions of the Board.
Consequently, the issue raised by the Deputy regarding the Board attending an inquest in relation to a casualty investigation is a matter for the Board itself and it would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on the matter.
