The victims of two separate drowning cases would have had a greater chance of survival had they been wearing lifejackets, according to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.
Reports by the investigation board into the two incidents in Co Wexford and Co Cavan found that lifejackets were not worn in both situations.
Both reports recommend that marine notices be published to advise the public of legislative requirements in relation to safety clothing.
The Co Cavan fatality occurred on August 1st, 2004, when four people were camping out overnight on Lough Sheelin. The four had left Finnea, Co Westmeath, in a four-year- old 19-foot (5.75 metre) fibreglass boat the previous day.
Kenneth Carney from Co Louth, fell out of the boat and a colleague, Stuart Higgins, jumped in and swam back to Mr Carney but was unable to rescue him. A search of the boat found no lifejackets.
Mr Carney's body was recovered on August 2nd by Westmeath Civil Defence.
A separate MCIB investigation into the death of Ronnie O'Connor off Cullenstown beach, Co Wexford, on August 21st, 2005, found that there was a severe ebb tide running on the evening he died. He had been fishing for bass earlier in the day with his brother, Michael, and was returning home when the incident occurred.
The boat's engine was known to be temperamental, and Mr O'Connor may have fallen in during attempts to start it.
Had he been wearing a PFD or lifejacket, "it would have greatly increased his chances of being rescued from the water alive", the report states.
