I thank Senators for their contributions. This amendment deals with a number of points relating to search and rescue operations, including the conduct of an investigation in this context, the expertise of investigators, co-operation between the MAIU and the SAR bodies, the exemption of volunteers from certain requirements in the Bill and the collaborative development of safety recommendations. I remind the House that the MAIU will be an independent unit, the purpose of which will be to determine the cause or causes…

Let me make a point on accident investigation qualifications. Ireland has been a member of the International Maritime Organization, IMO, since 1951. The IMO is a specialised agency of the UN responsible for regulating shipping and maritime activities globally. We participate actively in its initiatives to ensure safe, secure and environmentally sound shipping practices. The IMO casualty investigation code was adopted in 2008 and became mandatory on 1 January 2010. Its aim is to standardise the investigation of mari…

I reiterate that the purpose of Part 5 of this Bill is to allow us to regulate offshore service vessels for the carriage of industrial personnel to service the offshore wind industry. There appears to be some confusion between the regulation of these vessels to service the offshore renewable energy, ORE, industry and the recent Government approval of the LNG terminal. They are two entirely separate issues. I know concerns were raised around the definition for offshore industrial activities in the Bill containing re…

The purpose of Part 5 is to provide for the power of regulation of offshore service vessels. We are obliged, as part of the SOLAS Convention, to implement its provisions, including the new Chapter XV and its code for the safe carriage of industrial personnel. If and when the primary legislation is in place, work can commence on drafting the rules under this section to allow us to meet these obligations. However, we will provide rules not only for these vessels that fall within the scope of the SOLAS Convention but …

First, I wish to give some context for the exemption provision in section 46(9), to which these amendments relate. This is a practical provision, given the various types of offshore vessels we will be legislating for. For example, a small crew transfer vessel, which does not have the ability to carry cargo, may be exempt from the provisions in the rules related to the carriage of cargo. This provision is practical from a safety, construction and operational point of view to ensure we do not have a one-size-fits-all…

Offshore service vessels to be certified under this Bill are those vessels which carry industrial personnel engaged in the development of offshore renewable energy, including offshore wind energy. The International Maritime Organization recognises the growth of ORE-----

Thank you, Chair. Where was I? I suppose what I would say is ORE necessitated the development of a new category of vessel to support the sector, especially vessels carrying industrial personnel, who are the workers engaged in the working, operation and servicing of such offshore projects. The vessels involved would typically be crude transfer vessels or other specialised servicing vessels for the maintenance of offshore wind turbines. This has resulted in the development of a new category of offshore worker, referr…

I thank Senators for their input into the Bill and for facilitating Report and Final Stages. The Bill enhances our maritime safety regime in terms of maritime accident investigations and also provides for the necessary regulation making power to cater for vessels being used in the offshore service sector and the carriage of industrial personnel on those vessels. I once again take this opportunity to thank the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB, including its board, investigators and staff, for its ongoing wo…

I thank the Senators. I came in to take over from the Minister, Deputy O’Brien. I have been listening intently and taking notes. As the Minister said, this Bill is not perfect. We need to engage with Department officials and see if we can make it work. Senator Craughwell asked a question about the application for exemption. The exemptions fall into two main categories. One is for US civil air operators contracted to carry US military personnel with their unloaded personal issue weapons, which require an exemption i…

I again acknowledge all the work that people have done on this Bill.

I want to express my total confidence in Deputy Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle of this House. She is a woman of great vision and strength, and it is important that she be allowed to continue as the first woman to serve as Ceann Comhairle here. People have talked about last week and the scenes that were in here in the Chamber. I am not going to repeat them. Suffice to say, the people on the ground who I represent in Galway East were totally disgusted with what was going on here. When I was elected as a TD in the l…

I thank the Senator. These amendments deal with the experience and qualifications of investigators, the recruitment process and the eligibility requirements for appointment as investigator of the marine accident investigation unit, MAIU. First, I want to address amendments Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, and 11, relating to qualifications, experience and training. Section 9 provides that the MAIU shall be staffed with investigators who possess the requisite independence, qualifications and experience who shall perform the …

I agree it is important we have continuing professional development and keep up to date with all improvements in standards. It is important to note the Bill as set out has agility in relation to people with qualifications or whose qualifications change and is not overly prescriptive about the qualifications required. Otherwise, we would have to change the primary legislation every time something new comes in. We need that agility and that is why we are sticking with what we have in the Bill.

I believe it was amendment No. 14.

It concerns the annual report with regard to safety recommendations and the actions taken by bodies and authorities.

Yes. Section 15 deals with the annual report of the MAIU. It provides that: The annual report shall- (a) identify the marine accidents occurring during the period to which it relates, (b) contain a summary of the position in respect of marine safety investigations ongoing or completed during that year, and (c) provide information on safety recommendations that were issued by the MAIU that year and actions taken in that year in accordance with recommendations issued in previous years. The amendment tabled by the Sen…

The section provides for the powers of investigators to give directions to any person in or in the vicinity of a ship or the wreckage of a ship involved in a marine accident. Such directions may prevent or regulate access to the scene of the accident. This is crucial for the preservation of evidence. The nature of investigations is such that an investigator must have powers to give directions orally and for those oral directions to have immediate effect. Investigators must be able to secure the site of an investiga…

First, the amendments were ruled out by the direction of the Clerk.

This section prohibits the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information by investigators. Is that the section we are talking about?

It prohibits the disclosure of confidential information by investigators, administrative staff of the MAIU, staff of the Department to whom access to information and documents is granted for the purposes of administration and information technology functions, and any consultant or adviser engaged by the unit. This section also provides for the meaning of "maintain confidentiality" with regard to the Act, for the avoidance of ambiguity. These provisions are an important part of maintaining the independence of the un…