Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Someone has to take responsibility. It is a smokescreen and a cover-up. I am elected to represent people, including the families of those two young men who lost their lives off Helvick Head. There was no proper investigation. Nobody in the Marine Casualty Investigation Board could go out to sea because they had no seagoing experience. It would only happen in Ireland and not in any other country in the world. In Ukraine or Russia it would not be as bad. We continue with this useless legislation that will not deal with the problems. We will not look at the Swedish model.

I salute Michael Kingston and others who have contributed to this. I am sorry I missed the Second Stage debate because I was indisposed. This is sad. People had hope and great expectations that there would finally be legislation but no. We talked last week about whistleblowers being supported. This is shocking to the core. It goes to the fabric of our democracy and illustrates that we have not a democracy, as such, because this legislation does not represent what the public deserve, which is a properly constructed board that is able, fit and suitably qualified to deal with situations involving loss of life. Loss of life is awful and we have had so much of it.

There was an excellent documentary on the Whiddy Island disaster on RTÉ. I criticise that body often. Those two young men lost their lives off Helvick Head and there was no justice or proper Garda investigation. It was a cover-up and a smokescreen. It is an appalling vista. We should all hang our heads in shame, especially the Department which continues the smokescreen and cover-up. It is shocking.

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