Ms Cliona Cassidy:

They can be. Once they are published our reports stand alone. They can be used in the courts system, by coroners, by families or by companies. We are very clear that our statutory provision is to focus our investigations not on apportioning blame or fault. Notwithstanding this, we have a provision that if facts go to some indication that steps were not taken or processes or protocols were not followed that should have been then we must state this. The anonymising of our reports focuses on the fact that it is not the person involved at the time, it is ascertaining the cause of the incident and attempting to see whether or not any safety recommendations can be made to avoid it happening in the future. We do not have a role or statutory provision to allow the board to follow up the safety recommendations. If one looks at some of our previous reports, our safety recommendations tend to focus on matters such as requesting that marine notices be issued, for example to remind people of their obligations in the use of recreational craft and to not take alcohol on board prior to using fishing vessels. We direct safety recommendations to particular companies that may have been involved in an incident. We do not name the company but obviously the company is aware that the incident relates to it. We would recommend, for example, that the company review its navigation systems, its training procedures and its protocols in respect of man overboard procedures for fishing vessels. Many of these recommendations, even though they are directed, can be taken as general recommendations across the industry. If the board directs a safety recommendation to large cargo vessels to review their navigation systems and training around navigation systems, we hope that other large shipping fleets will also look at the recommendation, maybe take it on board and review their procedures and see if the report contains any element that may cause them concern. Many of our safety recommendations are directed towards the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and they include recommendations on issuing of marine notices. Where we believe that certain statutory provisions should be expanded we also recommend this. They are quite broad, but we do not have a role in following up on whether the recommendations are done. This is done by the individuals directed.