Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Bill is to revise the law on the registration, national character, mortgage, sale, transfer, ownership and measurement of Irish ships, to repeal the Mercantile Marine Act 1955, to amend certain enactments in this regard, to amend the definition of "Safety Convention" in the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952 and to provide for connected matters.

I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and his officials. As a number of amendments are related, they will be grouped together.

I ask that all mobile telephones be switched off.