Michael Smith
Ceist:8 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine the reason the regulation to implement the recommendations in the Fishery Safety Report is not being put in force. [24003/96]
Priority Questions. - Fishery Safety Report.
The report of the fishing vessel safety review group is a most comprehensive and detailed document, containing 63 specific recommendations. Some of these recommendations relate to the introduction of comprehensive regulations governing all aspects of fishing vessel safety. However, it is clear that the making in isolation of such regulations would have little impact on safety practices in the fishing sector. Much more fundamental changes are required.
An intensive analysis of the report has been carried out in the Department of the Marine since it was published. On this basis, the development of a new national policy on fishing vessel safety which takes account of the recommendations and objectives of the review group is now proposed. I intend to seek Government approval in the near future to initiate this new strategy which is set out in a draft memorandum for the Government, which has been circulated to relevant Departments for their observations. The overall aim of the proposed new policy is to achieve fundamental improvements in safety in the sea fishing sector with a view to reducing, to the greatest extent possible, fishing vessel casualties and, in particular, loss of life at sea.
While it would be inappropriate to elaborate on the proposals contained in the memorandum in advance of its consideration by the Cabinet, it is clear that the pursuit of this new policy will require the putting in place of the necessary legislative framework, structures, administrative and technical capabilities and financial resources, including EU and Exchequer moneys. I am totally committed to pursuing these resources and propose, in this regard, to seek additional allocations of Structural Funds, in the context of the mid-term review of the Community Support Framework, to support the implementation of the review group's recommendations. However, I emphasise that the success of any safety strategy for the fishing sector will, at the end of the day, primarily depend upon the full co-operation of the industry itself and a willingness on the part of individual fishermen to develop a safety culture.
While the proposed comprehensive safety programme for the fishing sector will clearly need to be phased in over a period of time, a number of measures are already being implemented on foot of the report of the review group. The Department and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are reviewing safety training requirements in light of the review group's recommendations in this area and, in that context, a newly refurbished mobile coastal training unit will be launched shortly. This will bring training in the safe operation of fishing vessels directly to fishermen in ports around the coast. Having regard to onshore radio communication facilities, the Department has placed orders for new medium frequency radio transmitters at Belmullet and Rosslare which will provide greater radio coverage and improve response to distress calls from fishermen off the north-west coast and in the Irish Sea.
In July I established a marine safety working group which aims to increase safety awareness among seafarers, including fishermen. The working group, which brings together representatives of various organisations having an active role in promoting marine safety, is to shortly issue a booklet containing guidelines to reduce machinery failure in fishing vessels, the main cause of emergencies involving such vessels.
I was not sure when the Minister's reply would end but I thank him for providing such a comprehensive report. I accept there is a need to introduce long-term and comprehensive legislative and other measures in this area. However, I am concerned about the more intermediate steps required because each year the country is affected by tragic accidents at sea which decimate families. I seek to ensure that interim measures be put in place and I welcome the establishment of the mobile training unit which will visit our fishing ports in the near future. I urge the Minister to take the necessary steps to concentrate the minds of people in the industry on the action required, which includes satellite and identification.
Ireland has an ageing fishing fleet. Young people entering the business are purchasing old vessels and, because fish stocks are in decline, they must travel further out to sea where the risks are greater. I urge the Minister to ensure that the necessary intermediary steps are put in place as soon as possible. Perhaps some form of information kit on safety could be developed by the Department and sent to the regions so that there are no further tragedies during the interim period.
I share the Deputy's concern about safety. It is one of my priorities because a value cannot be placed on a person's life. For that reason, speedy action has been taken in terms of training, awareness and using every opportunity to promote safety. We are encouraging owners of fishing vessels and their employees to ensure that they are properly maintained and that the correct radio equipment is installed. We must ensure that the staff of such vessels are trained in safety procedures. I assure Deputy Smith that this process will be implemented as quickly as possible.
Other fundamental issues must be taken into account. The report of the fishing vessel safety review group, which is an independent report, states that the percentage of the Irish fleet made up of vessels over 30 years of age is slightly lower than the EU average; in the EU fleet as a whole 18,982 vessels are over 40 years of age and a further 16,664 vessels are between 30 and 40 years old. The report indicates 39 per cent of vessels in the Spanish fleet are over 30 years old compared with 31 per cent of the UK fleet, 11 per cent of the French fleet and 24 per cent of the Irish fleet.
We are told Spain has a modern fleet but 39 per cent of it is more than 30 years old. Twenty four per cent of our fleet is more than 30 years old. While I would love fishermen to have new boats the reality is that the 1,300 vessels in the Irish fleet will not be replaced with new vessels tomorrow morning, next year or the year after. Restructuring is taking place and we are providing funding for modernisation, particularly from the point of view of safety. To date 133 applications for modernisation grants totalling approximately £4 million have been processed.
Much work has been done and my priority is old and dangerous boats. Unfortunately, a ten year old fishing vessel which has not been properly maintained could, sink. There are a number of factors involved, for example, culture, the maintenance of boats, the viability of the industry and the training of staff, and it would be foolish to send out a signal that because there are new boats there will be no accidents. This is not the case. We need to encourage people to build up a safety culture. In this context I am giving serious and positive consideration to the establishment of a training college in Castletownbere. In the meantime the mobile unit will encourage people to think in terms of safety and to ensure they have proper radio equipment. At the same time it will look at ways of helping those people who want to buy a good second-hand or new boat.
The Irish fleet is made up of the polyvalent and pelagic sectors. We have the most modern pelagic sector in the world operating from Killybegs. The bulk of the investment in this area came from private sources. If the industry is viable people will invest in it. The Minister of State, Deputy Gilmore, and I are trying to ensure there will be adequate fish stocks in the future so that the industry will be viable and banks etc. will be willing to lend money. In the meantime I will do everything possible to ensure the introduction, even on a pilot basis, of new boats in the white fish sector.
No one on this side of the House suggested that 1,300 new boats could be purchased overnight. We placed emphasis on the intermediate steps which can be taken and the necessary learning curve, to which no reference is made in some of the reports on tragic accidents, most of which could have been avoided through the implementation of even simple safety measures. We are well aware that the necessary resources are not available to replace all boats overnight but we want the intermediate steps to be taken.
I assure the Deputy that any interim steps in the area of safety which can be taken will be taken. Following a tragic accident on the east coast we put in place a 24 hour search and rescue helicopter service. We are conscious of the need for safety and the necessity of having in place the resources to deal with tragedies, which unfortunately are likely to continue to occur in the future regardless of the measures one takes. We hope to improve the 24 hour search and rescue helicopter service which operates from Baldonnel so that a comprehensive service is available throughout the country.