Greater prosperity has brought more intense recreational use of Ireland's inland and sea waters - and a belated awareness of the need for a more disciplined approach to safety.
This summer's drowning tragedies have galvanised the Minister responsible, Mr Dermot Ahern, to commission a review of watercraft safety. Representative organisations have responded by supporting more clear-cut and demanding measures, including better licencing, enforcement and greater public awareness.
Unfortunately clauses in the Maritime Shipping Act of 1992 relating to licences for vessels carrying more than 12 passengers and the mandatory use of life jackets were deferred by successive ministers following pressure from vested interests. It is therefore good news that the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers has now agreed that its members should use them ahead of a compulsory move to do so next year. Doing so is clearly essential, particularly as timing can be critical in rescue operations.
Since the rapidly increasing number of drownings in recent years has come alarmingly close to that of road deaths, it is high time representative organisations took their own initiatives in enforcing safety measures. To be fair, this has been pioneered by several sailing organisations; but it is now urgent that it be backed up by State action to enforce whatever regulations are agreed upon by this review and implemented by the Government. Without adequate resources and personnel, water safety will suffer in the same way as road safety from non-compliance with the law, while the numbers of casualties mount.
Reaction to the minister's announcements by rescue organisations makes it clear that irresponsible waterborne behaviour endangers many other lives. The number of helicopter and lifeboat rescue operations has increased along with the boom in sales of pleasure craft, fast power boats and jet skies. Many newcomers to these sports are quite unaware of how dangerous the sea and lakes can be. Ireland and Britain are the only EU states with such scant regulation of leisure and light angling craft. As this State makes the transition towards a safer regime there is merit in the call by several organisations that VAT on necessary equipment should be removed. But if the Minister is to live up to his commitment to change, he will ensure this review is rapidly completed and implemented.