Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This morning the coastal communities of Passage East and Dunmore East are mourning the deaths of three brothers, Paul, Kenny and Shane Bolger. On behalf of Sinn Fein and, I am sure, all Members of the House, I express my condolences to their families and friends. We all know that no coastal community is immune to such tragedies. My home county of Donegal has seen its fair share of tragedies. However, the south east has been hit particularly hard in recent years. Yesterday's tragedy is but one in a long series of tragedies to hit Dunmore East and the Passage East areas of County Waterford. We all know, too, that fishing is a hazardous occupation and that fishermen put themselves at risk every day they go to work. While tragedies will always occur, more needs to be done to ensure the safety of fishermen. I understand that following the recent spate of tragedies, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, in conjunction with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, undertook to examine the use of personal locator beacons by fishermen as an enhancement of existing safety measures. These devices are small transmitters worn as a watch or on a life jacket and provide the location of the person rather than the vessel. They can be of huge assistance in locating within a short period those who have gone overboard. I understand a series of recommendations on small boat safety have been forwarded by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board to the relevant agencies. What steps have been taken by the Department in this regard? Has progress been made in the provision of personal locator beacons and have the recommendations of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board been implemented?

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