Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1065: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the initiatives he has undertaken to improve the number of fishermen wearing lifejackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38957/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Statutory requirements in relation to the wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs) on fishing vessels are set out in the Fishing Vessel (Personal Flotation Devices) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 586 of 2001) as amended by the Fishing Vessel (Personal Flotation Devices) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 63 of 2008).

Under the Regulations, every fishing vessel shall carry a suitable personal flotation device for every person on board. The personal flotation device shall be worn at all times by the crew of the fishing vessel, when on the exposed deck of the vessel, or, in the case of open undecked vessels, on board the vessel, whether at sea, in harbour or coming to and from moorings. Furthermore, the Regulations require that the skipper of a fishing vessel shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that all crew members wear a personal floatation device in accordance with the Regulations. The Merchant Shipping Act 1992 provides that if there is a contravention of these Regulations, the owner and (if the vessel is in use) the master of the vessel are each guilty of an offence and each is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both.

The requirement for there to be a PFD available onboard for all crew-members is checked as part of the safety surveys that all commercial fishing vessels are required to undertake. The requirements for the wearing of a PFD are also communicated to fishers during these surveys and in addition, guidance on the selection of PFDs for use on board fishing vessels is conveyed through the issuing of Marine Notices from my Department.