Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

A general point in this regard is that the opportunity was taken to update fines in the Bill across a range of sections in the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952, to which the Deputy referred. The advice I have received is that the fines on summary conviction have to be fair, reasonable and proportionate. On Committee Stage I indicated that account was taken of the relative proportion of the original fines. That has been carried right through in the sections as well. There is no point in attempting to put fines into a Bill that are not deemed to be fair, reasonable and proportionate because they will be struck down in court and will not have the effect all of us would desire. On that basis I ask the Deputy to withdraw the amendments.

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