I must now ask the House to deal with a Private Notice Question from Deputy Gay Mitchell regarding a fire on board the ship St. Columba carrying 250 passengers on the Irish Sea. Will the Deputy put his question?
Private Notice Question. - Sealink Vessel Fire.
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will make a statement regarding the fire on board the St. Columba which was carrying over 200 passengers on the Irish Sea; if he will assure Dáil Éireann that an emergency plan is in place to deal with the problem and that none of the passengers and crew is in danger.
I am advised by Sealink that at 11.30 a.m. this morning a fire broke out board the St. Columba, The Sealink vessel. It was carrying 199 passengers at the time and it was on its regular service from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead. The vessel left Dún Laoghaire at 8.45 a.m. this morning so it was obviously close to the port of Holyhead when the incident occurred. Alerts were issued from the vessel and a lifeboat and helicopters from the UK were in attendance. The B & I vessel, the Leinster, was also in attendance. I understand, from my information from Sealink this morning, that the crew of the St. Columba put out the fire themselves and that there were no injuries. I also understand that the vessel is currently being towed into Holyhead Port. The Deputy will appreciate that the information is still coming in and I only received this Private Notice question less than half an hour ago. However, I am assured by Sealink that that is the current information.
Was there more than one fire on board? Does the Minister know whether the fire was accidental? Is he happy about the procedures for ensuring the seaworthiness of passenger vessels on the Irish Sea? Have there been mechanical failures on this ship in the past and, if so, were they a contributory factor on this occasion?
The Deputy will appreciate that the fire took place at 11.30 a.m. and my Department are still receiving up to the minute reports from Sealink on the matter. I could not know at this stage whether the fire was accidental.
A final supplementary from Deputy Mitchell.
I accept the Minister's position. Perhaps he will carry out an investigation and report to the House. Will he tell the House if an emergency plan was put into operation and, if so, whether it was adequate for the emergency in question?
As soon as I receive full information on the incident I will be glad to notify the House in the usual manner.
A Cheann Comhairle, you indicated on the Order of Business this morning that there was no provision for an Adjournment debate today. I ask you to review that decision in the light of the precedent of 9 February 1983 when the larceny of Shergar was debated on budget day on the Adjournment. The case of Samantha Webb is just as important and I ask you——
I have heard the Deputy's point of order and I can only tell him that the Order of Business has been decided for today.
On a point of order, I am asking you to reconsider your decision in the light of the precedent of 9 February 1983 where a similar order was made but a debate was held on the Adjournment. In the light of that I ask you to allow a debate tonight.
I will look into that aspect of the matter but, as far as the Chair is concerned, this House decided the Order of Business this morning.