Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The proposed amendment would enable the Minister to make rules and regulations to prescribe the requirements for Irish nuclear carriers and the survey requirements that must be carried out in respect of those ships. We have had this discussion before and I have already indicated that the Minister has no power to prescribe survey requirements, as proposed by the Deputy, in respect of all ships travelling or berthed in Irish waters. Other ships must be surveyed and given certification in their own State. Our surveyors of ships can board and inspect any of these ships when berthed in a port here to check for certification and compliance. Ships that are not compliant may be detained until the matters are rectified.

The principle of the Deputy's amendment has already been met by current legislation, so I ask him to withdraw it on that basis.

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