Results 7,061-7,080 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: We in the Department have done the work and for us it will be a priority to get it through. There are benefits as I have said. One of the other elements involved will be to allow for the registration under an Irish flag of the vessels we will need in the offshore industry. For this reason, it makes sense for us to proceed as quickly as we can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I would like to hear the contribution of the Taoiseach on the motion in the Dáil. I also have to speak myself on it. I do not have to go immediately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I thought it was 2 p.m., but it may be slightly delayed because of the vote. I ask that we can keep an eye on it. If I see the debate starting, I may leave.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not accept that the reports were not implemented correctly. The issue raised by the European authorities was about board governance structures, not investigations. Having rectified this issue in the legislation last year, the file is closed and there is no outstanding complaint or any question from the European Commission, or any other official source, that there is a difficulty or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Those are the very words. This was bord snip territory. No criticism of the author is in any way implied but at the time that was the background that informed the desire to amalgamate agencies. We will share the report with the members of the committee, but I do not believe it should be centre stage. In any event, the need to act on the recommendations of the Clinch report, which we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not agree with the Acting Chair's conclusion that the issue that had arisen regarding governance structures has such implications for the reports that have been done in recent years. Our first thoughts are with any family whose loved ones have been involved in an accident, but it will not serve them or the wider purposes of promoting maritime safety for us to believe there was this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am sorry, I forgot to answer that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: It would be a bad precedent. The circumstances have not changed, even if the Attorney General has changed. It would not be right to ask one Attorney General to second-guess another when the circumstances are clear. The advice was emphatic and clear and I will not be looking for a second opinion in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The recommendations and observations are published and that is the key thing that is in the public interest. It is also in the public interest that we adhere to the legal advice from the Attorney General.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I would be reluctant to comment without having a knowledge of the matter. To come back to the Senator’s initial comments, matters for the DPP are down to the DPP’s judgement, regardless of who has made an application. That is a matter for the DPP and it would not be appropriate for us or for me to start second-guessing the DPP’s decision in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I know, but I cannot put myself in the position of the DPP and I should not do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am more inclined to heed the advice of the clerk to the committee in this regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: No, it is not. It is the correct thing to do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I would be concerned about all accidents but our job is to create a new accident investigation unit that addresses future accidents that will, no doubt, unfortunately, happen. We must make sure we get the best possible system in place to learn the lessons from past incidents so that we do not see future accidents.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am available at all times to look at every issue and angle but I must follow proper due process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I know part of those concerns about due process were with regard to the contract arrangements for air and sea rescue and we are right in the middle of the contracting process. When I say we follow due process it is because, in the public interest, that is the right thing to do. It is in the public interest that we sometimes make decisions in the middle of contracts that we have to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not accept we made a total foul-up of the last one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not accept that the last one was a total foul-up, to use the Senator's words.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: We have the Comptroller and Auditor General and loads of mechanisms to make sure there is proper spending and budget allocation. We are all subject to internal audit and investigation. I will go back to the key point, however. When we are in the middle of new contract negotiations, there is a certain sensitivity around commercial arrangements to avoid distorting, in whatever way, a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I visit those islands on a frequent basis. I am very glad there is an air ambulance service that serves those islands. I would absolutely insist there is proper provision there.