Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I very much understand the passion with which Deputy Mattie McGrath introduced this matter. He brought the people involved to meet me and my sympathy and that of the House extends to them in this terrible situation. The Deputy would not ask me to comment publicly on the investigation, which I cannot do, particularly as he is pushing to have it reopened. If he is asking me to do that, he would certainly not be asking me to comment on what the result might be. I refer the Deputy to section 38, which provides that the Minister may, where he considers it necessary after consulting the board, direct that an inquiry be held into a marine casualty. The section sets out the procedure to be followed. Under section 40, the Minister may, after consulting the board, direct that a completed inquiry be reopened if satisfied there is new evidence available which is likely to materially alter the outcome of an inquiry. It is something that is really up to the very unfortunate people involved to produce new evidence. If they produce new evidence which satisfies the Minister, that would put me in a position where I could look at it.

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