Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The provision in section 34 provides that if there is not an official log, a record must be kept of every boat and fire drill and of the checks made on life-saving appliances. That is a mandatory provision. Therefore, a record must be kept, whether it is in a log-book, a written record or recorded on computer. This is the case, even when there is no official log book. The Deputy's point is that the log book should be mandatory, but that is arguable. Irrespective of whether it is mandatory, a record must be kept of every boat and fire drill. That is the effect of section 34 and it covers the point made by the Deputy.

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