Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Ceist:178 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if an examination by the Marine Survey Office was carried out on a master of a passenger ferry service (details supplied). [1882/97]
Written Answers. - Passenger Ferry Services.
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Ceist:179 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine whether the operator of a passenger ferry service (details supplied) between the mainland and an offshore island has consistently flouted safety regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1883/97]
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Ceist:180 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine the steps, if any, he has taken to ensure the safety of all passengers travelling on all licensed passenger ferry services between offshore islands and the mainland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1884/97]
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Ceist:181 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any person or persons operating a licensed passenger ferry service between any offshore island and the mainland who is operating outside of the regulations attaching to the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1885/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 179, 180 and 181 together.
All passenger vessels operating ferry services between offshore islands and the mainland are statutorily required to hold a valid passenger vessel safety certificate, which certifies that the vessel is fit to operate, subject to any conditions that may be imposed upon it. These are issued annually on foot of surveys, conducted by a marine surveyor of my Department, which involve thorough inspection of the vessel and its equipment, as well as the operation of safety standards on board.
Apart from these annual surveys, my Department from time to time reviews the safety regime of individual passenger vessels to ensure that safety standards are maintained. In addition, all reports of incidents involving passenger vessels, including alleged breaches of safety regulations, are investigated thoroughly by my Department. Where there is sufficient evidence, ferry operators who are in breach of safety regulations are liable to be prosecuted, and can face fines, or even imprisonment, if convicted.
In keeping with this policy, and following a number of reported incidents involving the vessel referred to by the Deputy, my Department recently carried out a review of the safety management operation of this vessel.
As a result of this review, it was decided that the master's permit should be terminated.
I understand that following discussions with the Department, the operator proposed an alternative master for the vessel. I am advised that this individual successfully underwent examination by the marine survey office on 17 January 1997 and has been approved by my Department to act as master of the vessel on and from that date.
I am satisfied that the correct course of action was taken in this matter, particularly in the interests of passenger safety; and I can assure the Deputy that it remains a priority of my Department to ensure that the highest standards of safety are set and enforced on all passenger ferry services operating between the mainland and offshore islands around our coast.
I have asked my Department to review the adequacy of the present monitoring arrangements in relation to passenger ferries generally.