Stop taxing safety at sea

FURTHER to the recent Fethard tragedy, most pleasure boat owners are in favour of safety gear on their boats.

The pious pontification of pompous politicians is one thing, but who is going to enforce such laws, if passed?

Existing rules stipulating a 6mph speed limit in three different specified areas of Cork Harbour are not being observed as it is.

Who is going to police all these new regulations? The French have made a great stab at doing so, without making France a police state.

A good auto-inflatable lifejacket which is not uncomfortable to wear costs almost 100 including VAT at 21%. This VAT on lifejackets and other safety items on pleasure boats should be abolished to encourage their uptake. Apart from lives, think of the search costs that it might save.

State subsidisation on these items through official bodies might even be considered. A Government committee has considered all these problems in the last year. Has there been any consequent action?

John O’Sullivan,

Sea Crest,

Rostellan,

Co Cork