The report to which the question refers was submitted to the Department in 2010, a time when the three transport accident investigation units (aviation, rail and marine) were located in three different locations in Dublin. Following consideration of the report the three units were co-located in a dedicated investigation facility in the Department’s office.
As you may be aware, I have recently appointed an international expert to conduct a review of the current organisational structures underpinning marine casualty investigation in Ireland in the context of national, EU and international obligations. I understand that as part of the programme of work for this review, the independent expert is taking into consideration previous reports and reviews including the report mentioned in the question. Furthermore, I believe the Reviewer has consulted with the report’s author as well as with the heads of the three accident investigation units.
I am expecting to receive the report of this review in the coming weeks and will give the matter further consideration then.
