Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
192. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to publish the report on the Marine Casualty Investigation Board conducted by a company (details supplied); and if so, when the report will be published [11564/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to make clear that the report referred to in the question is not a report on the Marine Casualty Investigation Board per se – rather it was centred on the optimal structure for marine casualty investigation.
In March 2021 my Department issued a Request for Quotes inviting proposals, including costings, from suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to undertake a review of the current organisational structures underpinning marine casualty investigation in Ireland in the context of national, EU and international obligations. Following a tendering process between 3 potential suppliers, Clinchmaritime Ltd. was selected as the preferred supplier to undertake this important review. Clinchmaritime Ltd. is headed by Captain Steve Clinch, who is widely recognised as an international expert with extensive experience of marine casualty investigation. Captain Clinch was the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents of the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) between 2010 and 2018.
Clinchmaritime Ltd.’s report was received in July 2021. The report and its recommendations are currently being considered by officials in my Department as part of the review of organisational structures for marine casualty investigation in Ireland. There has been a necessary delay in the publication of the report which is still the subject of an engagement with the Office of the Attorney General to obtain legal advice on certain aspects of the report.
As I have previously committed to in the Chamber, I aim, subject to legal advice from the Attorney General, to publish the Clinchmaritime Ltd. report before the end of the first quarter of this year.
