Clare Daly
Ceist:891. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the safety procedures in maritime operations within the State’s jurisdiction. [1698/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 January 2019
Ceisteanna (891)
Freagraí scríofa
Maritime safety is the key concern of the Irish Maritime Administration (IMA) which is a part of my Department. The IMA has many roles in relation to maritime safety both of a preventative and a reactive nature. For instance, the Marine Survey Office carries out maritime transport regulation for ships, seafarers, ports and cargos for safety, security, pollution prevention, accessibility and living and working conditions (for Irish ships in Ireland or worldwide and for foreign ships in Irish ports). The Irish Coast Guard is responsible for the response to, and coordination of, maritime accidents which require Search & Rescue and Counter Pollution & Ship Casualty operations while also having a role in marine communication, surveillance and emergency management in Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Maritime activity is a multi-faceted area with a wide variety of activities ranging from recreational craft users through to the smaller passenger boats and fishing vessels and on up to larger passenger ships and fishing vessels and internationally trading ships, both passenger and cargo.
Ensuring safe maritime operations and, in the unfortunate instances where things go wrong, an efficient and effective emergency response, is the top priority within the IMA. While these activities are constantly under review as part of the day to day work of the IMA, it is useful to take a step back and conduct a separate review from time to time or as the circumstances require.
For instance, following the tragic incidents involving the Irish Coast Guard RIB off Kilkee in 2016 and, separately, Rescue 116 in 2017, I have instigated a review into the national Search & Rescue Framework whose work is ongoing.
Prior to this, in April 2015 my Department, following a wide consultation, published the Maritime Safety Strategy 2015-2019 which contains a list of actions the IMA is working on implementing.