Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I warmly welcome the introduction of the Merchant Shipping Bill 2009 to the House given that key objectives of the Bill include improving the safety of life at sea, increasing access to passenger vessels for persons with reduced mobility and implementing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS, and the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention.

Many of these issues have been key concerns of mine, both as the Labour Party's current transport and former marine spokesperson, although I tend to cover the marine portfolio in this House, and as a Deputy who represents a maritime constituency. I welcome in particular the adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention, which has been described as the seafarers' bill of rights and which attempts to lay down globally recognised standards for among other things, mariners' pay and working conditions. The adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention is in a way a fitting tribute to a colleague of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and mine, the late SIPTU and International Transport Federation official, Mr. Tony Ayton of Tramore and Waterford, who died tragically just after Christmas and who dedicated his life to often single-handedly exposing the exploitation of our mariners. and fighting for decent pay and working conditions for all seafarers. A physical memorial for Mr. Ayton might be considered at some stage. He was a brave and diligent trade union official who at times went onto vessels on which workers endured conditions of near slavery while bringing trade to Ireland. He took risks with his own life and safety and perhaps his achievement should be recognised in the Port of Waterford or Dublin Port. The Minister may be able to facilitate this.

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