Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport
General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed)
Mr. Michael Kingston:
I have touched on the issues that I see as important, and it is quite a substantial list. I appreciate the Deputy might have to review the record afterwards. I will hand over to Mr. Ciaran McCarthy, who has some other important issues with the proposed legislation. On the tragedy in Deputy Crowe's constituency, he will have heard me highlight the importance of legislation that imposes a statutory obligation on investigators to turn up at inquests. Given the failings of the past regime and the highlighted failings in the marine hazard report that was circulated to this committee, specifically in relation to the Caitríona Lucas tragedy, and there are so many mistakes outlined in that report, as have been put on the record by Captain Neil Ford, it is imperative the investigator attends the inquest of the Limerick coroner. For that reason, it is critically important the Lacey provision regarding the requirement for investigators to attend coroner's hearings is in the proposed legislation.
No comments