Vol. 500 No. 3
24 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the steps his Department is taking to minimise dangers to marine traffic or rescue operations arising from the year 2000 computer problem. [3805/99]
With regard to marine traffic, my Department published on 28 September 1998 a detailed seven page Marine Notice, No. 20 of 1998 entitled "Notice to Shipowners, Shiprepairers, Mastes, Chief Engineers, All Ships' Officers, Skippers, Harbour Authorities, Ship Agents, Operators, Yachtsmen" which sets out a basic strategy which may be adopted in achieving Year 2000 – Y2K – compliance in the shipping sector.
As you are aware my Department has its own facilities for search and rescue response and also depends on facilities "declared" by other organisations. The Y2K audit of my Department's search and rescue facilities is not yet complete but has in the main shown Y2K compliance.
As regards the facilities when have been "declared" to the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES), my Department has sought assurances on Y2K compliance from these organisations and is awaiting their Y2K audit results.
