asked the Minister for Communications if he will issue a statement based on the findings of a report on the sinking of a French trawler Citedalete by a submarine off the Wexford coast, in which ten French fishermen lost their lives.
613.
Written Answers. - Maritime Safety.
612.
asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware of the increasing number of submarine related incidents in the Irish Sea and that there is a great fear on the part of fishermen of this hidden menace; the communication he has had with the Soviet and British Governments on these matters; the further action he proposes to take in relation to this very dangerous activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together. The Citadalete was a French fishing trawler which sank off Tuskar Rock on 12 January 1983 with the loss of its crew of ten. The French authorities carried out an investigation of the incident and found that the casualty was caused by the vessel becoming entangled in old abandoned fishing gear on the sea bed. The possible involvement of a submarine in the incident was rejected by the French authorities.
To date only one of the reported incidents involving fishing vessels in the Irish Sea has been proven to have been caused by a submarine. In that instance — the loss of the Sharelga in April 1982 — my predecessor ordered a preliminary inquiry under section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. Before that inquiry was completed the United Kingdom admitted that one of its submarines had been responsible.
The Government take a very serious view of the dangers posed by submerged submarines to other sea craft. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and his officials have voiced the concern of the government to the representatives of the Governments of the USA, the USSR and to our EC partners.
I have recently conveyed to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation — the United Nations agency with general responsibility for maritime safety — my serious concern about the growth of incidents involving fishing vessels and submerged submarines and have requested that this problem be examined as a matter of urgency with a view to promoting appropriate action to eliminate the dangers to other seagoing craft arising from the peacetime operations of submarines. The Department of Foreign Affairs has approached certain other Governments for their support in having this problem thoroughly investigated within the International Maritime Organisation.
614.
asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware of the number of commercial and pleasure craft which go to sea on our rivers without adequate provision of lifebelts; if he will consider making lifebelts and other safety precautions compulsory in the interests of human life; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Deputy may not be aware that last year I made 21 Statutory Instruments to give effect to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, 1974, and the 1978 Protocol thereto, including the following:
(1) Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Rules, 1983;
(2) Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) Rules, 1983;
(3) Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules, 1983;
(4) Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) (Post-1980 Ships) Rules, 1983;
(5) Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) (Amendment) Rules, 1983;
(6) Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) (Application to other Ships) Rules, 1983.
Taken together with the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules, 1967, and the Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Rules, 1967, these Statutory Instruments cover in a comprehensive manner the equipping of cargo, passenger and fishing vessels with life saving and other safety appliances. Pleasure craft over 45 feet in length are also comprehended by the rules.
Vessels carrying fewer than 12 persons for hire or reward are the responsibility of the relevant local authority under the Public Health (Amendment) Act, 1907. In this connection, my Department has produced guidelines for the design, construction and equipment of such small vessels including recommendations in respect of safety equipment.
615.
asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware of the outstanding work being done by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution around our coasts on a completely voluntary basis; if he agrees that State support facilities such as radio equipment, radio station location, helicopter facilities and on-share support facilities are completely inadequate; and if he will, in consultation with the RNLI, provide that body with the facilities they deserve in the interests of human life.
I am well aware of the outstanding work being carried out on a voluntary basis by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution around our coasts — Ireland has been well served over the years by the courage and dedication of the members of the institution.
I do not accept the suggestion that State support facilities in the area of marine search and rescue are inadequate. The adequacy of existing facilities is kept under constant review in consultation with the RNLI and all the other agencies involved in marine search and rescue activity who are members of the Irish Search and Rescue Committee which is chaired by an officer of my Department.
The provision of a maritime VHF radio network around the coast for marine rescue and general communication purposes is well advanced. The first two stations in the network are in operation in Donegal and Kerry and work is proceeding on a third station in west Cork. Furthermore, the Department of Defence is in the process of acquiring new helicopters which will have an improved search and rescue capability.
My Department makes an annual grant, £40,000 in 1984, to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. In addition a special grant of £100,000 was allocated in 1984 for harbour improvements intended to enhance the response capability of the lifeboats at Ballycotton and Rosslare.