John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are mindful that while we are dealing with the issue of defective EPIRBs or faulty marine beacons, a search is continuing for a fisherman missing off the Wexford coast. I attended the funeral of Shane, Paul and Kenny Bolger in June 2013. They were three brothers who died when their boat capsized in Tramore Bay. It is a day I will not easily forget. Their boat was equipped with an EPIRB. I spoke to a number of fishermen at the time and the suggestion back then was that the bow of the boat did not submerge and for that reason, the emergency signal did not go off. There might be some doubt about that. There are growing concerns that similar devices made by one particular manufacturer, GME, could be defective. The company has admitted that a microprocessor malfunction has been identified as the cause of a number of these EPIRBs not working properly.

There is an internal inquiry within the Department about concerns raised about EPIRBs three years ago and the actions that were taken or should have been taken at that time. I understand the Department raised concerns this year with the manufacturer and also contacted the company in 2010. Some people with whom I have spoken have questioned why the Department waited for the company to issue an alert before issuing its own.

The relevant international certifying authority is Bureau Veritas, which determines whether such products comply with the EU marine equipment directive.

To be honest, I am more interested in ensuring that everyone who is registered as having an emergency position indicating radio beacon, EPIRB, understands that there is a potential problem with the reliability of that safety beacon. I am not just referring to GME EPIRBs, but all EPIRBS. The company has issued an alert and the Department has issued a safety alert, but this matter deserves more than just an advisory. Even though EPIRBS are supposed to be tested every month, it is not done in every case. If there are doubts about EPIRB reliability, the Department should contact each registered individual and alert him or her to the potential danger while the inquiry takes its course.

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