Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Defence the report he has received on the sinking of the[i] Asgard II [/i]off the French coast; his future plans in regard to the provision of a sail training vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35947/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, on 11 September 2008, the national sail training vessel, Asgard II, sank in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France. The Asgard II was on a cruise from Falmouth in the UK to La Rochelle. On board were five crew and 20 trainees. All crew and trainees were evacuated successfully and are safe and well.

The decision to abandon the vessel and take to the life rafts was made by the captain because the vessel was taking in water and was flooding. Weather conditions at the time were moderate. All trainees and crew were rescued by the French life boat service and taken to the island of Belle Île. I take this opportunity to compliment the captain and crew of Asgard II on the very professional manner in which all the trainees were quickly and safely taken off the vessel. I would also like to pay tribute to the French life boat service for quickly coming to the rescue of the trainees and crew and bringing everybody safely ashore; and to the authorities in Belle Île on the way they looked after things.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board, which is a statutory independent body, is carrying out an investigation into the cause of the incident. I have no information as to when the result of that investigation will be available.

Asgard II was insured with Allianz Plc for the sum of €3.8 million. Following consultations with insurance company representatives, Coiste an Asgard decided to arrange a survey of the vessel using a remotely operated vehicle in order to establish her status prior to any decisions being made in regard to salvage. This survey, which was carried out between 26 and 29 September, revealed that the vessel is lying upright in 80 m of water close to where she sank and appears to be largely intact. Damage to one of the hull planks has been observed but it is not possible, at this stage, to determine whether this has resulted from impact with the seabed or was the original cause of the sinking.

At a meeting between Coiste an Asgard and the insurance company on 9 October, it was agreed that the insurance company would seek tenders for the salvage of Asgard II and that a decision on whether to proceed with a salvage operation would be made in the light of the outcome of the tender process. I understand that the closing date for the receipt of tenders is 31 October.

Pending a decision on the future of Asgard II, the board of Coiste an Asgard is considering the question of procuring a suitable temporary replacement vessel. At this stage, I am not in a position to indicate when a decision might be made as to whether to procure a replacement vessel.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Like the Minister, I compliment the captain on the very effective way this crisis was dealt with. Everybody came out of it safe and sound. The French authorities also played an important part in the rescue. Having said that, we still do not know what happened. I have read speculation that debris from ships floats around this area and that it is quite a problem.

I understand from the initial under-sea survey that the cause is not readily visible. Effectively, it is not clear whether the damaged plank the Minister mentioned was caused by impact with the seabed or whether it was the cause of the accident.

Salvage is now on the agenda and, obviously, the tenders will have a bearing on whether that happens. I take the points the Minister made that we do not know what happened and that it may be some time before he knows.

Have ships such as the Dunbrody or the Jeanie Johnston been considered by Coiste an Asgard as possible replacement sail training vessels? That project is at an initial stage, if at all. Will something happen before the end of the year?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputy O'Shea rightly recognises, we will not know the precise cause of the accident until the Marine Casualty Investigation Board concludes its investigation. I assure the House that when it does, I will have no difficulty publishing its report. In regard to Deputy O'Shea's second question, Coiste an Asgard is considering a number of possibilities for replacement. It has not yet reported back to me on its considerations in that regard.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Are the French authorities involved in the investigation? If so, has the Minister received any information from them?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The investigating body is the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. Naturally, it must talk to the French authorities and the French life board service, in particular. I understand that nobody other than the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is directly involved in the investigation. It has primary responsibility for the investigation.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Was it not involved in the underwater survey?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot answer that question exactly but I understand the underwater survey was commissioned by Coiste an Asgard. I do not know who it got to do it but I can get that information for the Deputy.