asked the Minister for Transport the number of officials within his Department whose duties include examining the safety standards of ships entering Irish territorial waters and Irish ports, and the number of prosecutions instigated against offending ship-owners in 1979.

There are ten marine surveyors and three radio surveyors in my Department whose duties include the examination of safety standards of ships and ship's equipment.

During 1979 one foreign registered ship was detained for a number of days because the appropriate radio requirements were not complied with but it was not found necessary to institute a prosecution against any master or shipowner during that year.

Is the Minister, and the Department, satisfied that the present examinations are sufficiently detailed?

We are never satisfied that they are as good as we would like them to be because this is a changing situation. It is a matter that the Department keep under constant review.

Is the Minister aware that it is felt in maritime circles that our standards are below those which exist in other countries?

I am not so aware.

What number of ships would enter Irish territorial waters in one year?

The Minister would hardly have that information. It is a separate question.

If the Minister is able to ascertain that ten plus three inspectors are sufficient he must be able to say the number of ships that enter Irish territorial waters in one year? He must be able to tell us the number of ships those people would be responsible for inspecting. If the Minister does not know that he is not in a position to say the number of inspectors required.

That is not the question I was asked. If the Deputy wants that information he must put down a separate question.

The Minister must have that information in order to give the reply he has just read. One is directly related to the other.

That is argument.

The Deputy had better talk to the Ceann Comhairle about that.

Is the Ceann Comhairle responsible for the Minister?

Is the Deputy talking to me or through the Chair?

I am talking through the Chair to the Minister.

It does not appear that the Deputy is doing that.

I am wearing shoes but I am not walking.

I hope the Deputy can hear them.

Will the Minister answer my question?

I cannot answer the question because I do not have that information with me.

If the Minister does not know the number of ships he does not know whether ten plus three officials will be sufficient to carry out inspections.

That is argument.

On what basis are these surveys carried out? Is every ship that comes into port inspected or are inspections carried out on a spot-check basis?

They are not counted let alone inspected.

We have proposals to employ three more surveyors. The Department of the Public Service have been asked to sanction those appointments because this on-going situation must be reviewed regularly. We are anxious to allay any fears that may exist in relation to this matter.

I am grateful to the Minister for the additional information but I would be obliged if he would answer my question. Is every ship entering our ports inspected or are inspections carried out on a spot-check basis?

It is recognised as desirable that, apart from the safety certificate arrangements on every ship which ensure that ships are resurveyed at specified intervals, random surveys of ships should be carried out on a spot-check basis.

It is not a regular check if it is on a spot-check basis.

In addition to certain regular checks, checks are carried out on a spot-check basis.

Does the fact that no prosecutions were initiated in 1979 mean that there was no danger from any ship?

I am reasonably satisfied that that was the situation.