asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport why he has refused to make available the findings of the inquiry into the sinking of the Carrig Úna; if he is aware of the total dissatisfaction within the community of west Donegal and among the fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sinking of Carrig Úna.
114.
In accordance with the provisions of section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, a marine surveyor of my Department carried out a preliminary inquiry into the loss of the Carrig Úna, which occurred in November 1976.
The statutory purpose of such an inquiry is to enable the circumstances of a shipping casualty to be established and to determine whether the circumstances are such as to warrant the holding of a formal investigation under section 466 of the Act. Following receipt of the report of the preliminary inquiry it was decided by my predecessor that no useful purpose would be served by such formal investigation.
I am aware of requests for the publication of the reports of the preliminary inquiry. The position is, however, that such reports have always been regarded as confidential to the Minister and it is long established practice not to publish them. I am aware that a similar procedure is followed in a number of other countries.