Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water Safety.

Damien English

Ceist:

140 Mr. English asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are still thousands of boat users and other water based activity users not wearing life jackets; the action which will be taken to improve this dangerous situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22107/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

I regard the wearing of life jackets by everybody on small open craft as an essential element in staying safe on the water. Addressing the unacceptable practice of individuals using vessels without wearing a life jacket has been at the top of my safety agenda.

In addition to the many statements I have issued over the past year urging members of the public to take personal responsibility for their own safety through wearing a life jacket, the Coast Guard, as part of my Department's 2003 safety awareness programme, undertook an intensive public safety awareness campaign across the summer months on the radio and through other media, focusing on the wearing of life jackets for all water based activities. Reports from the Coast Guard that an increase in the wearing of life jackets was noticeable this year suggests that the public is responding to the safety advice. However, we need to continue with our efforts until everybody accepts the safety message. The Coast Guard is planning a similar public awareness campaign for 2004.

As part of a review of safety on small water craft which I initiated last year, I issued a consultation paper dealing with carrying and wearing life jackets. Following an assessment of the very significant number of responses received from the public, I announced on 1 August 2003 that I will introduce new regulations to strengthen the current provisions in relation to the carrying and wearing of life jackets. Currently, life jackets must be worn by commercial fishermen while on deck, by children up to the age of 16 on mechanically propelled pleasure craft, by jet-ski operators, and on certain categories of small commercial passenger boats. I have decided that under the new regulations a life jacket will have to be carried for everyone on board a vessel and, in the case of small open craft, all occupants will be obliged to wear a life jacket. My objective is to have the new regulations in place in 2004 and I also intend to publicise widely the requirements under these regulations.

I have also announced that the maritime safety directorate will prepare a new safety code of practice for pleasure craft, which will be given statutory effect. The code will specify the conditions in which life jackets should be worn, particularly on larger leisure vessels, and other important safety features and practices which should be observed on all vessels. The directorate will undertake a public consultation process as part of the process of preparing the code.