The Government's announcement of new safety measures for passenger boats on the day before the publication of the report into the sinking of the Pisces has been criticised by Fine Gael.
Fine Gael's Wexford TD, Mr Paul Kehoe, deplored the timing of Minister for Marine Mr Dermot Ahern's announcement of new guidelines for passenger boat safety a day before the report's publication.
"This must be a difficult time for the families and friends of those affected by the tragedy, especially as it is coming up to the anniversary of the tragedy," he said. "There are lessons to be learnt from the Pisces disaster but now is not the time to highlight them ... we must remember those suffering due to the sinking of the Pisces and deal with the matter sensitively."
Many of the people who lost relatives in the tragedy declined to comment on the report's findings. Mr Paddy Doyle, whose son Séamus and grandson Mark died in the tragedy, asked for the press and the public to be sensitive to those who had lost loved ones.
"This is a traumatic time. I have no comment to make and we wish to be left alone to deal with our grief," he said.