This morning the coastal communities of Passage East and Dunmore East are mourning the deaths of three brothers, Paul, Kenny and Shane Bolger. On behalf of Sinn Féin and, I am sure, all Members of the House, I express my condolences to their families and friends. We all know that no coastal community is immune to such tragedies. My home county of Donegal has seen its fair share of tragedies. However, the south east has been hit particularly hard in recent years. Yesterday's tragedy is but one in a long series of tragedies to hit Dunmore East and the Passage East areas of County Waterford. We all know, too, that fishing is a hazardous occupation and that fishermen put themselves at risk every day they go to work. While tragedies will always occur, more needs to be done to ensure the safety of fishermen. I understand that following the recent spate of tragedies, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, in conjunction with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, undertook to examine the use of personal locator beacons by fishermen as an enhancement of existing safety measures. These devices are small transmitters worn as a watch or on a life jacket and provide the location of the person rather than the vessel. They can be of huge assistance in locating within a short period those who have gone overboard. I understand a series of recommendations on small boat safety have been forwarded by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board to the relevant agencies. What steps have been taken by the Department in this regard? Has progress been made in the provision of personal locator beacons and have the recommendations of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board been implemented?

As I said, everybody in the House shares the sense of grief and tragedy arising from the deaths of the Bolger brothers in the tragic fishing accident yesterday. The Deputy is correct that a tragedy such as this resonates strongly in coastal and fishing communities. I know this is a particular issue in County Donegal. Maritime search and rescue services in the south-east region are provided by a combination of Coast Guard search and boat units, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, RNLI, facilities based at Rosslare, Fethard-on-Sea, Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East and community rescue services designated as declared resources to the Irish Coast Guard. All of these services are supported by the Coast Guard and maritime helicopter services operated out of Waterford and reinforced as required by Coast Guard helicopters in Dublin, Shannon and Sligo. The upgrade of the helicopter service is ongoing. Only this week two of the replacement S-92 helicopters arrived in the country. All maritime emergency responses are co-ordinated by the three rescue co-ordination centres based at Malin, Valentia and Dublin, with the Dublin centre having specific responsibility for the south-east region. In the unfortunate event of a tragedy occurring, an investigation is conducted by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. I am sure an investigation will take place in this case.

On the issue of small transmitters and how they can be used to assist in identifying the locations of people and contribute to safety, I understand the matter is under consideration. I will ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond directly to the Deputy on the current status of the recommendations. I agree with the Deputy that we need to ensure the best available safety and prevention measures are in place to protect those who go to sea, which is hazardous, particularly so in a country with many small fishing ports where the weather can change quickly. It is important that every possible resource is available to preserve and protect life at sea.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as an cheist a fhreagairt. Last October, in response to a question by Senator David Cullinane, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine indicated that it was his intention that his Department would take measures with a view to making the provision of personal locator beacons mandatory under appropriate legislation. This was first signalled seven months previously. What progress has been made on the issue and is it still the Government's intention to make personal locator beacons mandatory under legislation as it indicated over a year ago?

These tragedies are happening far too often. Fishermen are finding it harder and harder to make a living and, as a result, put their lives at risk to support themselves and their families. We need to ensure the very best protections are available to support fishermen. While there is no doubt that they will not prevent all tragedies, personal locator beacons could be an essential step forward. This technology is reasonably cheap and a personal locator beacon can be purchased on the market for approximately €130 exempt of VAT. Anyone who has an iPhone will know that the Apple corporation has put a personal locator beacon in it because it values its product. We should give the same type of respect to our fishermen who go to sea and put their lives at risk to make a living for themselves and their families. Is it still the intention of the Government to make personal locator beacons mandatory? Is it the intention of the Government to assist fishermen with grant aid to purchase personal locator beacons as a wristwatches, neckwear or as part of a flotation device?

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, has already indicated his intention with regard to personal locator beacons. He has said that legislation is required to make the wearing and use of such technology mandatory. I will ask the Minister to respond to Deputy Doherty directly on the status of the legislation. Currently, there is sea fisheries legislation in preparation but I am not sure if it is the Minister's intention to include provision on personal locator beacons in it. The Government - Deputy Coveney, in particular - takes the issue of safety at sea very seriously and will act on whatever steps must be taken to improve safety at sea and prevent as far as humanly possible the loss of life at sea.