Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presentation and for his engagement with us. Many of us have no expertise in this area, an area on which we depend to a great extent, and it is no different from the expertise the State has through its investigation units for air and rail accidents. We should be looking at the solution to the problem by putting in place a permanent investigation unit of a similar standard.

I recognise and respect the Minister's point on the review, but those of us who have had the honour and privilege to serve around these Houses for a number of years are well used to departmental speak. I am not accusing the Minister of it at all; he is new to this Department. Departmental speak when it relates to a review is, effectively, the long finger and to move on. In his written and oral presentation, Mr. Kingston has said that now is the time. The focus of the Oireachtas is on marine casualty and accident investigations. It is not a hot topic. It probably will not make it to the stocks any time soon again. Here is an opportunity to have a comprehensive solution and resolution to the problem. Yes, there is the issue that arose from the European perspective, and the issue of the independence of the board will be resolved, but Mr. Kingston has also highlighted the issue of the patchwork of investigations that do not necessarily have that common thread, and the haphazard approach to investigations, which are subcontracted out to individuals on a casual basis. This does not in any way cast anything other than respect for the people who do these investigations, but bringing together a unit that would develop and build corporate knowledge over time is something we should strive for.

Mr. Kingston referred to the funds spent by the State per death, which he said was a rather crude way to do it but it is factual, versus the cost to the State of investigations of accidents in any other way. Based on all the information that is available I suspect that we do not need a long review. We do this with the Air Accident Investigation Unit and with the Railway Accident Investigation Unit. I am aware that in recent years the State has really upped its role in the investigation of road accidents, which the Minister will be familiar with. At one time it was the case that after a road accident, even one ending in a fatality, the road would be cleared and swept by the fire brigade within an hour or two of the accident taking place and the cars would be moved. That does not take place any more because we have recognised there is much learning from every accident that takes place, which builds our ability to react and prevent future accidents. Obviously, the same should apply to our Marine Casualty Investigation Board.

I appeal to the Minister to give serious consideration to what Mr. Kingston has put forward. He does so with a vast amount of experience and I am sure he would be prepared to work with the Department if there was a view that it could be advanced quickly enough to form part of this legislation.