Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Yes. In the previous Dáil, when there was a Department with responsibility for the marine under Deputy Dempsey, there were interesting developments in the IMDO, but from what the Deputy just read out, nothing much has changed in the last couple of years. This may have to do with fiscal rules and so on.

With regard to flags of convenience, from my own viewpoint and that of the labour movement, the situation is clear. Many reports have been done by SIPTU and by the International Transport Workers' Federation, and we clearly know which are flags of convenience and which are genuine flags. All Governments have shied away from addressing this issue. The British Government came closest to having a go at it when Mr. Prescott, a former mariner, was the Deputy Prime Minister, but we have not yet remotely come to grips with the issue. It is clearly an issue of concern. All we need is one major disaster and serious questions will be asked about this legislation, just as we are asking about financial regulation at the moment. I appeal to the Minister to adopt these amendments.

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