Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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278. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of referrals that have to date been made to the Marine Survey Office by the Workplace Relations Commission under the agreement made between those agencies on 3 April 2019; the number of these referrals that led to inspections of fishing vessels by the Marine Survey Office; the number of these inspections that were unannounced; the number involved in a review by Marine Survey Office surveyors of records of work and rest maintained under regulations (details supplied); the number of these reviews that identified violations of the said regulations; the action the Marine Survey Office took in respect of these violations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14266/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Following mediation between a number of Government Departments and the International Transport Workers’ Federation on the scheme for employment of non-EEA fishers in parts of the Irish sea-fishing fleet, a settlement agreement was reached in 2019. The Appendix to the agreement contains details of the working arrangements regarding maximum hours and rest breaks for crew covered by the Atypical Worker Scheme as agreed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the Marine Survey Office of my Department (MSO), and the Department of Justice and Equality and this includes arrangements whereby the WRC refers specified issues to the MSO for follow up.

The MSO has received 28 referrals from the WRC. Two of these were in relation to information received by the WRC from An Garda Síochána, which the MSO considered in the same way as the referrals that had originated in the WRC. 

There were 26 follow up inspections relating to the 28 referrals received, of which 23 were unannounced inspections. A review of the records of hours and rest being kept onboard was undertaken at each of the 26 inspections and 16 of these reviews identified deficiencies. The action taken in such cases was in accordance with the professional judgement of the attending MSO surveyor. In 3 cases, the deficiencies were rectified during the inspection and were recorded as closed out. The actions taken in the other 13 cases included  “rectify before departure”, “rectify within 14 days” and “other, as specified by the surveyor” e.g. requirement for the submission of records to the MSO for further examination. The MSO has also carried out follow up inspections as appropriate to check on progress or closing out of deficiencies. The vessels which have rectified deficiencies will also be subject to further scrutiny of records etc. during the MSO’s ongoing survey and inspection programme, so as to ensure ongoing  compliance. The MSO may detain vessels in cases of serious or continuous non-compliance and prosecution of offences through the courts may follow in such cases.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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279. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of unannounced inspections of Irish fishing vessels the Marine Survey Office surveyors have made annually since 1 January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14267/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of my Department has in place a programme of survey and inspections for fishing vessels which includes both unannounced and announced inspections. In relation to unannounced inspections, these may be carried out following receipt of a complaint or after an incident involving a vessel etc. In 2018, the MSO carried out 12 unannounced fishing vessel inspections. In 2019, 40 such inspections were carried out. In 2020, 19 such inspections were carried out. 7 such inspections have been carried out by the MSO so far during 2021.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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280. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of Irish flagged fishing vessels over 15 m in length that have been inspected by the Marine Survey Office annually since 1 January 2018 and, in respect of the number of the said vessels, if the official log book had been returned to the Marine Survey Office as required by sections 239 to 242 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (as amended); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14268/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of my Department has in place a programme of survey and inspection for fishing vessels which includes both unannounced and announced inspections. In 2018, the MSO carried out inspections of 145 fishing vessels of >15m length overall. In 2019, 141 such inspections were carried out. In 2020, 67 such inspections were completed. During 2021, 12 such inspections have so far been completed.

In relation to fishing vessels required by sections 239 to 242 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 as amended, to return the official log book to the Mercantile Marine Office (MMO), this information is not recorded. I can advise that the number of official log books returned to the MMO in respect of fishing vessels was 250 in 2018, 228 in 2019 and 206 in 2020.