Vol. 476 No. 4
164 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine the progress, if any, made in relation to investigating the sinking of the trawler Exodus; and the reason Ireland has not ratified international legislation on piracy in the light of the Spanish vessel, Sea Horse, being involved in this tragedy. [7309/97]
A Department of the Marine inquiry into the collision between the Irish fishing vessel Exodus and the British-registered fishing vessel Sea Horse on 9 March 1997 is being conducted by two marine surveyors of my Department under Section 465 of the 1894 Merchant Shipping Act.
Every effort is being made to establish the facts about the collision and to have a report made available, subject to normal legal considerations, as soon as possible after completion of the investigation.
I can confirm that Ireland has ratified the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention 1982 which deals, inter alia, with piracy.
