“Minister’s refusal to meet Tipp family raises serious concerns,” McGrath

Press Release

03-06-2015
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called on the Minister for Transport Pascal Donohue to fulfil the commitments he gave to two Co. Tipperary families relating to the deaths of two members of their families at Helvic Head Co. Waterford in 2010. Deputy McGrath was speaking after the Minister confirmed this week that he will not be in a position to meet with the families despite multiple assurances to the contrary:
“My office has been attempting to organise this meeting with Minister Donohue since October 2014, when I was initially assured by him that it would take place as soon a diary opening became available.
That position was restated by the Minister’s Private Secretary in November 2014 and again in January 2015.
All the families are looking for is an opportunity to present their concerns to the Minister in the hope that similar tragic incidents can be avoided in the future and that clarity can finally be obtained around the incidents of that fateful day in 2010.
It is very unclear why the Minister who initially agreed to meet would then point blank refuse that request in February of this year.
The families of the late Mr John O’Brien and Mr Patrick Esmonde feel extremely let down by the actions of the Minister and have interpreted his new reticence as opening up a host of new concerns for them.
They are now of the view that the Minister is hiding behind the independence of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) as a political tactic not to engage with them for reasons that are inexplicable.
For four months of back and forward negotiations with the Minister’s office there was no indication given that the meeting which was being sought would interfere with the functioning of the MCIB; now it is being held up as a categorical reason to refuse engagement with the families.
That is a change in position which needs to be immediately clarified.
Any failure to do so will continue to raise doubts and questions in the minds of the O’Brien and Esmonde families in terms of the willingness of the State to investigate fully the deaths of two of its citizens,” concluded Deputy McGrath.
ENDS