asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the contact, if any, his Department have had with the French Government on the proposed public inquiry on the Whiddy disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Whiddy Island Disaster.
15.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the proposals, if any, to ask the French Government to participate in the public inquiry on the Whiddy disaster.
17.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if representations have been received by him or by the Government from representatives of families of French citizens who died in the Whiddy disaster; and, if so, the special procedures, if any, which the Government have established to facilitate such representations.
(Dublin South-Central): With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 17 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, after consultation with my Department, have informed the French authorities that an inquiry into the Bantry Bay disaster will be held before a Tribunal of Inquiry.
The French authorities, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, sought facilities for their experts to conduct an investigation into the disaster and to carry out an examination of the wreck. These facilities are being afforded to them so far as legal and safety considerations permit, with the consent of and under the supervision of my Department.
It will, I understand, be open to the French Government to be represented before the Tribunal of Inquiry.
No representations have been made to me or to the Government from representatives of French citizens who died in the disaster.
Has the Minister specifically replied to Question No. 17?
(Dublin South-Central): No representations were made.
Is the Minister in a position today, as distinct from yesterday, to indicate the venue for this inquiry and when he will be in a position to give the House the terms of reference of the inquiry?
(Dublin South-Central): As regards the venue, I mentioned that a number of locations had been mentioned and the Office of Public Works have been directed to carry out investigations into the facilities in a number of locations. This is what the Office of Public Works are doing and when they report back to my Department we will be in a position to advise the Government. It should be remembered that this is a Government decision.
I appreciate that.
The Deputy will appreciate that this matter was discussed for a long time yesterday.
The Chair will recall that yesterday we were told that no decision would be made until the necessary legislation was passed. That legislation was passed this morning here.
It is not law yet.
Is the Minister in a position to say the venue for the inquiry and when the terms of reference will be published? This influences a lot of organisations anxious to make representations.
(Dublin South-Central): I can assure the Deputy that the terms of reference will be published shortly and the Government will soon be making a decision with regard to a venue.
Does the Minister know what the terms of reference are?
(Dublin South-Central): The terms of reference are being considered.
Are there specific terms before the Government at present?
(Dublin South-Central): There are not specific terms before the Government at present.
Am I right in assuming from the Minister's reply that four weeks after this disaster the Department of Tourism and Transport still have not before the Cabinet for decision a draft of the terms of reference for this inquiry?
(Dublin South-Central): We had to wait until the legislation went through this House.
This is not so.
(Dublin South-Central): I can assure the Deputy that the terms of reference will not be long and will be available here for debate.
Is the House right in assuming that the Department have yet to produce for the Cabinet a draft of the terms of reference?
(Dublin South-Central): It has already and the Deputy can rest assured of that.
There is nothing in the three questions regarding the terms of reference of the inquiry. We discussed this matter before.
The Minister introduced this when replying to a supplementary. I want to know if the Department have put up before the Cabinet for decision a draft of the terms of reference for the inquiry four weeks after the disaster. The question is a simple one and the Minister has only to answer "yes" or "no".
(Dublin South-Central): Tentative discussions have taken place at Cabinet level and proposals are ready as soon as the legislation is passed.
Is the answer "no", or that the Minister does not know?
(Dublin South-Central): Of course we know the terms of reference. The terms of reference are available.
But they are not before the Cabinet?
(Dublin South-Central): They are.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware that the legislation he was talking about was an amendment of general legislation that had nothing specifically to do with the Bantry Bay disaster? Is he aware that that legislation could not in any way control the submission of draft terms of reference?
(Dublin South-Central): I can assure the House that the Government will be in a position shortly to inform the public of the terms of reference. There will not be any delay.
I will not permit any further discussion on this matter because there is nothing on the Order Paper about the terms of reference for the inquiry.
The Minister mentioned that the Office of Public Works had been instructed to check out accommodation in different areas but I should like to know when that instruction was given to the Office of Public Works.
(Dublin South-Central): Shortly after a decision was taken to set up the inquiry.
Can the Minister give the date?
(Dublin South-Central): I have not that information.
Can we assume that the decision referred to by the Minister was that which was given by the Taoiseach to the public media after his visit to Bantry?
(Dublin South-Central): When the decision was taken to hold a public inquiry it was necessary then to decide on a venue. We wanted to ensure that a proper examination was carried out of the various locations to ensure that all facilities were available for such an inquiry. The Office of Public Works was asked to carry out that examination.
When was the decision taken to establish a public inquiry?
(Dublin South-Central): I do not have that information. That is a separate question.