Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

It is difficult to predict virtually everything at the moment. A number of Deputies made the point that many of these functions could be best managed by a stand-alone Department of the marine. We have had such a Department on a number of occasions. Two Deputies who are present in the Chamber served in that Department. Interestingly, other European countries with long coastlines have had similar experiences. As a member of the interdepartmental marine co-ordinating group, I think people would be surprised to find that 12 Departments are involved in marine matters. Even if a stand-alone Department of the marine were reconstituted, most marine functions would have to be retained by those parent Departments. I do not have time to elaborate on the many reasons for that.

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