Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputies made two suggestions. First, people with EPIRBs from the batches in question or made by this manufacturer should be contacted individually to ensure that they are aware. I am happy to take that suggestion on board and to carry it out. Through the normal marine notice process and the attendant media coverage, the majority of all vessel owners should be aware of the recent marine notice concerning these EPIRBs. However, as a precautionary measure and following on the Deputies' suggestion, my Department will inform everyone on the EPIRB register of the relevant notices to ensure that people are fully informed.

I will need to take advice on the question of independent testing by someone other than the manufacturer. I am unsure as to who the independent tester would be or even if it is possible to carry out independent tests on a device that has been already opened and examined.

It is important to state that EPIRBs can fail for a number of reasons. Sometimes they do not hit the water, which means they are not activated, while on other occasions they may be faulty. In addition, the battery may not be replaced properly or may have been tampered with. If that happens obviously it is serious. People put themselves at enormous risk if they cut corners by trying to repair devices or change batteries when they are not qualified to do so.

In its revised Estimates volume, my Department has given its highest ever allocation for the coastguard service, totalling €67.9 million. That will cover the critical helicopter search and rescue services. I am also developing a new maritime safety strategy as I am keen to build greater awareness about safety and the measures we can take together to help reduce risks.

The central goal of the new safety strategy will be to reduce deaths and injuries, as each life lost at sea is one too many. I am concerned that a country such as Ireland, which has a much smaller fishing fleet than Iceland, loses many more people at sea than Iceland. That does not happen with our passenger or cargo vessels, so we have a big problem there which needs to be addressed.

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