Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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404. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish the report completed by a person (details supplied) in 2010 into much needed reform of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20675/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The report referred to was not a report about the Marine Casualty Investigation Board or Ireland’s marine casualty investigation structures per se, but rather a report on the possible establishment of a multi-modal investigation body combining the rail, air and marine accident investigation bodies under a single entity.

The focus of the current Merchant Shipping Bill and the next legislative reform proposal is a review of the organisational structures relating to marine casualty investigation alone.  The option of a multi-modal body was considered again but is not being pursued as the main focus is to amend the marine casualty investigation structures – consideration of a multi-modal body would be a longer term issue. Possible publication of the report is under consideration by my Department. 

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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405. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that the Clinch Report has not yet been published given his public commitment that it would be published by the end of the first quarter of 2022; if he will now make arrangements to publish this important report into much needed reform of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20676/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I would like to make clear that the report referred to in the question was not solely a report on the current organisational structures for marine casualty investigation in Ireland, i.e. the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, but rather it was focused on setting out recommendations to achieve the most appropriate and effective marine casualty investigation structures for Ireland, taking into account national, EU and international obligations.

In March 2021 my Department issued a Request for Tenders inviting proposals, including costings, from suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to undertake the review.   Following a tendering process between 3 potential suppliers, Clinchmaritime Ltd. was selected as the preferred supplier to undertake the review.  Clinchmaritime Ltd. is headed by Captain Steve Clinch, who is widely recognised as an international expert with extensive experience of marine casualty investigation.  Captain Clinch was the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents of the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) between 2010 and 2018.

Clinchmaritime Ltd.’s report was received in July 2021.  The report and its recommendations are currently being considered by officials in my Department as part of the review of organisational structures for marine casualty investigation in Ireland and my Department is engaging with the Office of the Attorney General with regard to its publication. Once this engagement has been concluded, and subject to the advice, I will then look to publish the report as appropriate.