Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the commitment given that boat owners who spent many weeks in the search to locate the MFV Honeydew, at huge cost and expense, would be compensated for the fuel expended during the course of the search; the reason this commitment has not been discharged to date; and when and the way this commitment will be carried out. [8936/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Several fishing vessels joined the search for the Fishing Vessel Honeydew 11, which got into difficulty on 11th January 2007. These vessels were not tasked by the Irish Coast Guard but joined the search voluntarily. The Department of Transport made no commitment to compensate boat owners for the fuel expended during the course of the search. As a general rule vessels at sea are under an obligation to respond to a distress call at sea. The Department of Transport does not normally compensate vessels such as lifeboats, community rescue boats or craft of opportunity for the fuel that they have used nor is it international practice to do so.