The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources is expected to seek Government support today for possible statutory regulation on the use of pleasure craft, in the wake of this week's accident off Co Louth.
Dr Woods will seek Cabinet approval to extend the remit of an action group he set up last month to examine the regulation of jet-skis, speed boats and other fast water craft. As the group has not yet had its first meeting, its terms of reference and membership could be extended.
The original initiative was taken on foot of a series of accidents involving jet-skis and other craft in recent months.
In July, a Belfast man died in Sligo General Hospital after he was seriously injured in a jet-ski accident at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, the previous weekend. Glen O'Hare (19) was riding a jet-ski or personal watercraft and was towing a water-skier when it collided with another pleasure craft in the harbour.
The same weekend, Sabrina Gannon (18) from Ballybough, Dublin, died in Spain of injuries she sustained when a jet-ski she was riding in Torremolinos veered out of control. It is understood that it was her first time on the craft.
A jet-ski is potentially as dangerous as a 1200 cc motorcycle - but it requires no licence, insurance or experience for use. Several local authorities, including Fingal in Dublin and Galway, have already introduced new by-laws prohibiting the use of these craft.
The action group will examine a wide range of measures to improve safety, which would complement the measures already in place for fishing vessels.
A 50 per cent grant-aid scheme to encourage the installation of safety equipment on board fishing and sea angling vessels is currently being administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. RNLI statistics for last year showed that pleasure craft accounted for an average of 45 per cent of all call-outs answered by voluntary lifeboat crews, with commercial fishing craft and individuals in distress accounting for 27 per cent.
Over half the population now engages in a marine-based activity, according to Marine Institute statistics.
