Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Cassidy and congratulate her on her nomination as chairman designate. I have had the sad duty of reading MCIB reports on many occasions in recent years. Many of those involved in the incidents investigated in the reports were friends or acquaintances of mine. Ms Cassidy is right to suggest that the reports often make for distressing reading. I hope the professionalism shown by the MCIB in the writing and publishing of its reports will continue under Ms Cassidy's stewardship.

I would like to ask a few questions. Ms Cassidy seemed to emphasise independence as a key factor throughout her presentation. I welcome the fact that she does not have a connection to this country's marine industry or to the leisure, sea-fisheries and commercial sectors of our small marine community. It is depressing that, as an island nation, we do not look towards our maritime resource in the way we should. If Ms Cassidy had a prior involvement with the marine industry, I have no doubt that a conflict would eventually arise. I welcome that aspect of Ms Cassidy's character.

It is obvious that many of the recommendations made by the MCIB in recent reports have been viewed with great seriousness by the relevant Departments, and rightly so. Does Ms Cassidy have a view on the role of the Health and Safety Authority in marine issues? In my opinion, the Marine Survey Office should be the lead authority when it comes to safety at sea. What does Ms Cassidy think about the possibility of the Health and Safety Authority getting involved in such matters? Does she have a view on the use of personal locator beacons, which would allow casualties to be recovered quickly or, in the case of an unfortunate tragedy, bodies to be found? If not, will she develop a view on it? There are some compatibility issues with such devices at the moment. It is something the MCIB could take a view on. I do not suggest it should comment on their use in individual incidents, but perhaps it could make some kind of recommendation for the future.

I appreciate that Ms Cassidy is just beginning her work in this role, but I would like to ask her about one aspect of the recommendations of the MCIB about which I am concerned. Over the years, public representatives have constantly commented on this in the context of health and safety legislation. Is there a danger that we are gilding the lily in terms of health and safety legislation? I do not want to take it to an extreme, but the obvious way to prevent casualties at sea is to avoid going to sea. A balance can be struck somewhere in the middle of that. Would Ms Cassidy be conscious of the concern that many of the MCIB's recommendations might overstep the mark? If they restrict this country's engagement with its marine resources, which is already quite poor, they will make things even more difficult.