Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Barrett for sharing time. I will make two points on this legislation. The first has been covered by many speakers. On the coasts of Wales and France are marinas and harbours, but we have an unexploited tourism resource that has never reached its potential or been cultivated because the Government has never taken the marine seriously. As Deputy Barrett stated, we do not have a Department. One can go from south County Clare to County Mayo without encountering a marina. The one in Greystones is being developed successfully, but it encountered many difficulties, including foreshore valuations. The Minister for Finance had responsibility and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and everyone else had an input. At the same time, no one had an input. Many projects were parked because people got tired of waiting.

The most important word spoken by the Minister of State was "modernisation". Legislation must be modernised. The Celtic tiger is over. We do not have oil or mineral wealth. Our only resources are people, innovation and education, but no legislation covers the thousands of kilometres of our seabed. The resources therein are being plundered and our seabed is being damaged because we have no control over or commitment regarding the situation. It might be one of our most important resources. It could take us out of the recession. We need to work with universities, including NUIG, and the marine industry to map the seabed, as its potential is unlimited. When we look back in ten or 20 years' time, our neglect of that potential will be one of the great shames of this era.

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