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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as an cheist a fhreagairt. Last October, in response to a question by Senator David Cullinane, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine indicated that it was his intention that his Department would take measures with a view to making the provision of personal locator beacons mandatory under appropriate legislation. This was first signalled seven months previously. What progress has been made on the issue and is it still the Government's intention to make personal locator beacons mandatory under legislation as it indicated over a year ago?

These tragedies are happening far too often. Fishermen are finding it harder and harder to make a living and, as a result, put their lives at risk to support themselves and their families. We need to ensure the very best protections are available to support fishermen. While there is no doubt that they will not prevent all tragedies, personal locator beacons could be an essential step forward. This technology is reasonably cheap and a personal locator beacon can be purchased on the market for approximately €130 exempt of VAT. Anyone who has an iPhone will know that the Apple corporation has put a personal locator beacon in it because it values its product. We should give the same type of respect to our fishermen who go to sea and put their lives at risk to make a living for themselves and their families. Is it still the intention of the Government to make personal locator beacons mandatory? Is it the intention of the Government to assist fishermen with grant aid to purchase personal locator beacons as a wristwatches, neckwear or as part of a flotation device?

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