asked the Minister for the Marine the number of occasions on which the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre at Shannon Airport, County Clare has had to seek the assistance of RAF helicopters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

8.

asked the Minister for the Marine if he has received the report prepared by the West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee; if he intends to act on any of the proposals made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

20.

asked the Minister for the Marine the number of lives lost through the sinking of fishing vessels or accidents on such vessels during the past five years; if he has satisfied himself with safety procedures on fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

29.

asked the Minister for the Marine the plans his Department has (1) to provide a proper and adequate marine search and rescue service for the west and north coasts (2) to introduce a new rescue co-ordinating structure and (3) to introduce a procedure for annual safety equipment surveys for all registered fishing vessels.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 8, 20 and Priority Question No. 29 together.

The number of lives lost as a result of fishing vessel incidents over the last five years was as follows: 1984, 0; 1985, 4; 1986, 8; 1987, 6; 1988 (to date), 5.

The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre has sought the assistance of the Royal Air Force in marine search and rescue operations on the following number of occasions since 1982: 1982, 57; 1983, 70; 1984, 20; 1985, 93, 1986, 61 and 1987, 48. Co-operative effort of this kind is a feature of internal efforts of search and rescue.

Provisions regarding the safety of fishing vessels are laid down in the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1983, and in rules and regulations made thereunder. As was pointed out to the Deputy in reply to a parliamentary question on this matter on 24 November 1987, this legislation covers such matters as safety equipment to be carried in a fishing vessel, registration of fishing vessels, manning and certification of crews, provision of radio installations, masters and safety of navigation.

In addition, the Fishing Vessels (Certification of Deck Officers and Engineer Officers) Regulations, will come into force on 1 September 1989. These regulations, which have been agreed in consultation with the industry, will require those fishing vessels of 16.5 metres in length and over which operate in the limited area and all fishing vessels which operate in the unlimited area to carry a specified number of deck officers, certificated in accordance with the regulations. Existing certificates of competency issued under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1984, will be treated as equivalent to specified certificates of competency issued under these regulations. Also, all fishing vessels of 750 kilowatt or more engine power will be required to carry a specified number of engineer officers certificated in accordance with the regulations. There is no provision under existing legislation which requires fishing vessels to carry engineer officers.

Provision is also made under the regulations for the issue of certificates of service to uncertificated engineer officers and deck officers serving in capacities which do not at present require the carriage of certificated officers, but which will on enactment of the new regulations.

At international level work is proceeding in redrafting the Torremolinos Convention on the Safety of Fishing vessels, which lays down uniform principles and rules concerning the construction and equipment of fishing vessels directed towards the safety of such vessels and their crews. The International Maritime Organisation's Maritime Safety Committee considered the matter at its 55th session in April of this year and approved, in general, proposals for the development of a protocol to the Convention. As a member of the IMO Ireland contributes to its work towards developing and harmonising maritime safety standards and regulations as between its members. When the Torremolinos Convention enters into force, my Department will examine their provisions with a view to their incorporation into domestic legislation.

As far as surveys are concerned, merchant shipping legislation requires fishing vessels to be measured for tonnage prior to registration. An inspection of safety equipment, that is, life-saving and fire-fighting appliances, is also carried out at this time. While existing legislation does not call for periodic inspections, fishing vessels are resurveyed when structural alterations are made. The Torremolinos Convention contains provisions regarding periodic inspections of fishing vessels and my Department are awaiting the final deliberations of the International Maritime Organisation before proceeding to draft the appropriate legislation.

So far as search and rescue is concerned the report of the West Coast Search and Rescue and Action Committee was formally presented to me on 14 September of this year, at which time I immediately referred it to the interdepartmental committee on the deployment of search and rescue helicopters, which has addressed those recommendations of the West Coast Committee which come within its terms of reference. The report of the interdepartmental committee is now under consideration by the Minister for Defence and myself and it will be presented to the Government very shortly.

Marine search and rescue operations within our area of responsibility are coordinated by the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre situated at Shannon Airport. The centre acts as a clearing house for all messages received during an operation and all new relevant information is evaluated and redirected to all appropriate units and agencies. A working group on MRCC Shannon comprising officials from the Department of Tourism and Transport, reported in September of this year. My Department are at present considering that report.

Because of the urgency and importance I attach to the efficiency and effectiveness of marine search and rescue operations I have established a special group comprising the public service agencies involved in search and rescue (including the RNLI) earlier this summer to review at regular intervals marine incidents, and to agree where possible, improvements to approach and procedures.