Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Like the Minister, I offer my sympathies to those who lost people in the Rising Sun incident. The conclusions of the report have been in print for one year and the Minister says that as of today he intends to do something about them but has not done so as yet. I am unhappy that his Department has not implemented the recommendations in full. We must hold him to account on this issue.

The vessel was overloaded. The load on the vessel when the certificate was given was changed, making it less stable for the conditions on the day, the equipment on board and so on. A significant number of other fishing vessels may have been similarly altered. The purpose of the marine investigation report was that the Department would act and that the documents of compliance and code of practice would reflect any changes that might happen in the life of a boat and what its skipper or owners would make. Why has the Department not insisted on national compliance with these proposals, published over one year ago, in view of the serious issues involved and the danger posed to other boats?

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