Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for his attendance. It is a measure of the seriousness of this issue that Deputy Deasy and I have both seen it in order to raise it as a Topical Issue matter. An EPIRB is an emergency position-indicating radio beacon. It is a very important safety device on maritime vessels. In times of distress, particularly when a boat sinks, the EPIRB will activate and indicate the position of the vessel and its registered owner. It is very important that we have learned over recent days that an Australian manufacturer has indicated that there are 150,000 faulty beacons available internationally, of which 700 are in this country. The significance of those EPIRBs being faulty is very distressing for coastal communities, particularly those involved in the fishing industry. This is a very difficult day and I am sure Deputy Deasy will reflect on that. Even when these devices go off accidentally, it is very distressing for communities and more often than not, it is because of faulty installation or maintenance or the lack of maintenance, but it is very disconcerting to find that there is a fault with the manufacture of EPIRBs.

We need to give some assurance to the marine industry, particularly the fishing industry, that the Department is fully on top of its brief. I note that under Marine Notice No. 13 of 2012, it is mandatory for the registered owners to declare their ownership of these EPIRBs so there is a register within the Department of all EPIRBs and their owners. The Department issued Marine Notice No. 38 of 2013 asking owners and operators of EPIRBs to check them to see they pass tests, but it was a very vague notice and it is very important the Department takes a more proactive approach in dealing with this problem. I look forward to the Minister's response. The Department has a register of EPIRB owners and knows the issue. There are issues around installation and maintenance but the industries and communities around our coast need assurance from the Department through the Marine Survey Office or whatever relevant authority to ensure these devices are in safe working order.

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