Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputies Buckley and O’Rourke.

Last week the European Court of Justice found that the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is not adequately independent and gave costs against the State. Any decision of the European Court of Justice that finds against the State is weighty and significant but this is especially so in the context of the work that the Marine Casualty Investigation Board does. It has issued over recent years almost 300 reports on marine incidents and casualties since its establishment. Throughout the history of the State, and especially in recent years, there have been so many significant events and tragedies and families left grieving because of significant instances and tragedies. It is vital that the incidents are properly investigated and that the people who are affected, bereaved and injured have confidence in the system.

It has been found by the European Court of Justice that Ireland is in breach of Article 8(1) of directive 2009/18/EC. The fundamental point is quite straightforward. The court decided that the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is not independent because two of the five on the board are from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It seems obvious. Frankly, it is difficult to understand why the case was fought by the State given that many commentators were of the view that it was bound to fail. Will the Minister set out how much this case cost?

I have not been keeping track of time.

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