Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his statutory relationship to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board; his role in appointing members of the board; his views on whether it is appropriate to appoint persons to the board who have no marine experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23241/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​​The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was established on 5th June 2002 under Section 7(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000. The purpose of the MCIB is to investigate and to establish the causes for marine casualties, with a view to making recommendations to the Minister for Transport for the avoidance of similar casualties. 

Section 8 of the Act provides that the Board shall be independent of the Minister in the performance of its functions and shall be independent of any other person or body whose interest could conflict with the functions of the Board.

The Board consists of five members and under Section 9(1)(a) of the Act the Minister has power to appoint three of those members.  My predecessor, Minister Varadkar, made three appointments to the Board in 2013.  The Chairperson of the Board was appointed for a period of 5 years, and two other Board members were each appointed for a period of 4 years.  Those appointed have a range of skills and experience which are relevant to the MCIB's role and responsibilities, including legal, accountancy and emergency management skills.    

The Chief Surveyor of my Department's Marine Survey Office is also a member of the Board (under Section 9(1)(b) of the Act), and has considerable marine experience.  The Secretary General of my Department also has power to nominate a person to the Board (in accordance with Section 9(1)(c) of the Act), and his nominee is the Chief Inspector of the Air Accident Investigation Unit, who has significant experience of conducting investigations in the transport sector.

Furthermore, under Section ​26(2) of the Act, the Board may appoint persons suitably qualified to undertake or assist in the undertaking of marine casualty investigations.

I consider that the Board has the appropriate range of skills and experience available to it in order to act independently and to discharge its statutory functions effectively.