Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Section 21 on mutual assistance transposes the requirement of the EU directive that the MAIU must co-operate with and provide assistance to the marine safety investigation authorities of other member states for investigations that fall within the scope of the directive and impact on one or more of the member states. It also provides that only one member state should lead an investigation that impacts on more than one member state. Parallel investigations may only be carried out in exceptional circumstances, and the reasons for doing so must be notified to the European Commission. It also provides that a member state assisting the lead member state with an investigation is not responsible for costs.

This section provides for the MAIU to co-operate in a marine safety investigation conducted by a substantially interested third party and to co-operate with the European Maritime Safety Agency.

This section also outlines the responsibility for investigating an accident involving a ro-ro ferry or a high-speed passenger craft. The MAIU is responsible for an investigation into an accident involving such vessels if it takes place in territorial waters of the State or where the State is the last member state visited by that ferry or craft.

That was just a little more on that section.