Two years after the unexplained disappearance of six crew on the Donegal fishing vessel, Carrickatine, the Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods, has promised to publish the findings of his Department's investigation.
A legally approved version of the official report will be published in the new year, Dr Woods told The Irish Times yesterday.
The findings of two other official inquiries into fishing fatalities - the loss of three crew on the Jenalisa off Co Waterford in February 1996, and the death of a Wexford fisherman on the Scarlet Buccaneer off Howth in November 1995 - will also be published, Dr Woods said.
All three reports are with the Attorney-General's office.
The policy on investigations was changed during Dr Woods's first term as Marine Minister. Until then, findings were not published, mainly for legal reasons, but it was long maintained this caused additional distress to bereaved families. A similar reversal of policy had already occurred in Britain when Dr Woods took his decision.
Referring to the debate over the dilapidated state of the whitefish fleet sparked off by the loss of the Carrickatine, he said he was preparing a comprehensive package involving renewal and refurbishment. EU restrictions on fleet size have virtually halted new buildings in recent years, and a pilot study published by the previous government recommended the construction of a mere four new vessels.
However, Ireland would not have to decommission vessels under the latest Brussels agreement on fleet tonnage; some of the finance earmarked for this would be channelled into renewal. "We are negotiating with the European Commission on the details, but the main aim is to improve safety." Addressing the Irish Maritime Law Association in Dublin yesterday, Dr Woods said a modern casualty investigation system would be formulated on foot of the impending report of the Government's Marine Accidents Policy Review Group. The group, which was set up by the former minister, Mr Sean Barrett, is chaired by maritime law expert, Mr Vincent Power.
Dr Woods said he was "hopeful that problems encountered in carrying out previous casualty investigations, and the lessons learned, will be examined and the Department's current procedures, particularly concerning communication with bereaved families, the industry, media and other state agencies can become more sensitive, clear and useful." The review group had conducted "the most thorough and wide-ranging" examination of maritime casualty investigations to date and its recommendations would be given "urgent and full consideration" by his Department. He also wants to initiate a special awards scheme for bravery in marine rescue and has asked Capt Liam Kirwan, head of the Irish Marine Emergency Service, to draw it up.
Referring to shipping safety, Dr Woods, who attended the International Maritime Organisation conference in London earlier this week, said he had opened bilateral negotiations with Britain and France on initiating a voluntary notification system on transport of hazardous substances by sea. Ireland had also called for a mandatory code for the transport of irradiated nuclear fuels.
Recent maritime legislation, including the updating of the Merchant Shipping Act, was discussed at yesterday's Irish Maritime Law Association seminar. Special compensation for prevention of damage to the environment was ad dressed by the keynote speaker, Mr Geoffrey Brice QC, of London.
