Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Someone needs to answer for the fact that this unsafe vessel was registered as safe in the first place when it clearly was not. This family have been let down apparently every step of the way by the system because we have another situation here in which the buck seems to be passed from one to another all over Europe. As the Deputy stated, we know there are boats out there that are of the same make and that come out of the same factory. They have been found totally unseaworthy as well. It is a pity that this looks to be at a stage at which nothing will happen until a ship sinks, there loss of life or whatever. That is not good enough, as far as I am concerned. We know and the officials know that some of these boats that are out there on the water are totally unsafe. It has come to a stage where we need to get advice from people with the knowledge of the legalities involved in maritime law. I suggest that we identify a suitable professional who will assist in that regard now in order that we get stuff moving before the end of the term of this Government and that, even if this petition falls at the end of this term, there is a process in place when it is readmitted under a new Government.