The former chairwoman of the West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee has criticised the decision to commission a review of safety measures on small watercraft. Dr Joan McGinley said the solution to safety concerns depended on providing more resources. Report by Lorna Siggins, Irish Times Marine Correspondent
The review, announced by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, earlier this week, has been welcomed by several representatives of the rescue and marine leisure sectors.
However, Dr McGinley, who spearheaded the successful campaign in 1988-89 to locate a medium-range helicopter on the west coast, said yesterday that there had already been many reports and reviews and the establishment of several organisations.
"The knee-jerk political reaction is always to produce reviews and set up committees. The real reaction should involve providing more resources and personnel, to ensure compliance with safety measures - but also to work with people." Legislation was meaningless unless such resources were put in place, she said.
"We already have the Health and Safety Authority, the Irish Water Safety Association and the Department's Marine Safety Directorate.
"What we need are people out there working in this area and ensuring that a cultural change takes place."
Mr Ahern has said that the possible introduction of authorised officers and initiation of intensified spot checks should be looked at as part of the review, which will be carried out in conjunction with his Department's Maritime Safety Directorate.
He wants the review to focus on requirements for wearing lifejackets on both mechanically and non-mechanically propelled boats; and licensing requirements, including clear identification of registered vessels by users and possible competency-testing of persons in charge.
Ireland and Britain are the only European coastal states where use of marine leisure craft is largely unregulated and there has been some concern among industry interests that licensing could force up costs.
The Irish Marine Federation has welcomed Mr Ahern's decision, but its chairman, Mr David O'Brien, repeated its call for VAT on safety equipment to be dropped.
The Irish Federation of Sea Anglers has also welcomed the move and has said that its organisation has been "misrepresented" in the controversy over lifejacket use, following the deaths of five people on a sea angling boat off the Wexford coast earlier this month.
Two years ago, sea angling vessels working within three miles of the coast were due to be subject to regulations under the 1992 Merchant Shipping Act, but several exemptions were granted by the then minister, Mr Frank Fahey, under pressure from the industry.