THE chairman of the Commissioners of Irish Lights was accused of trying to blackmail a Minister over the need for updated safety at sea legislation.
The charge was made by Mr Brendan Daly (FF) during the debate on the Bill to regularise the provision of navigational aids by the Commissioners.
Mr Daly said it was regrettable that the chairman had sent a letter threatening that unless legislation was brought forward, the lights around the coastline would be switched off. If such a communication had come to a Minister during his time in government, that chairman would be quickly called to account for his comments.
Mr Daly said he had occasion a number of times to see a similar type of bully boy tactics adopted by some of our semi state bodies. It had been very quickly spelt out to them what the consequences would be if they persisted in such an approach.
Introducing the Bill, the Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett, said it would enable the Commissioners to continue to provide modern technological maritime navigational aids. It was an urgent piece of legislation.
The chairman of the Commissioners had told him that they had been advised that individual commissioners were potentially liable for any claims or expenses, arising from the illegal operation of radio aids to navigation and that they had no option but to notify mariners of the termination of such aids from today unless the required legislation was passed or Government indemnity was given.
On the controversial proposal to site a Loran C radio mast at Loop Head in Clare, the Minister said the public forum which was being established would consult extensively on the impact of such a development in Clare or elsewhere and on the site selection procedure used by the Commissioners.
It would also consider the appropriateness of this State's involvement in the Loran C project in general.