Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 39 together.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am addressing on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, who is out of the country. Lead policy responsibility for the fishing sector rests with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, are under the remit of my Department, they are independent in the conduct of their statutory functions. The WRC's responsibilities relate to the enforcement of the Employment Permits Acts and employment rights legislation generally, including minimum wage legislation.

By the end of 2017, 95% of the target fleet had been inspected. The HSA is the enforcement agency under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and conducts inspections under health and safety regulations at all places of work, including fishing vessels while docked in harbour. It does not carry out inspections of fishing vessels at sea even when operating in Irish territorial waters.

The Marine Survey Office, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, has lead responsibility for fishing vessel safety, security and living and working conditions for the crew on board seagoing vessels. It is responsible for enforcing legislation in this context for seafarers and fishing vessel crew.

Regarding the recent unfortunate accident involving a non-EEA national on a fishing vessel, it is my understanding that the HSA is conducting an investigation into the circumstances in line with its remit under workplace health and safety legislation.

On the separate issue raised by the Deputy of adequate training for WRC inspectors to carry out inspections on fishing vessels, nine inspectors as well as a regional manager of the WRC completed comprehensive training in this regard. It was delivered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara on safety at sea and sea survival techniques, including firefighting and first aid. This training was a prerequisite for the deployment of WRC inspectors to onboard inspections and operations at ports and landing places because the WRC, like the HSA, does not undertake inspections at sea.

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