Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy proposes to amend amendment No. 59 so that the flag under which a vessel is registered be inserted as one of the matters that regard be had to when categorising high-speed craft into classes for the purposes of making regulations and rules under section 18. We already discussed this and I indicated that I will not make a distinction on the basis of the flag of the vessel. The same requirement will apply to all vessels to which the relevant section applies. His amendment would have the opposite effect to the one he wants it to have. It could restrict us whereas as it is all of the rules apply to all craft.

Amendment No. 60 will enable the Minister to make rules and regulations to prescribe requirements for Irish high-speed craft and the survey requirements that must be carried out in respect of those ships. I 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 have to be surveyed and given certification in their own state and 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 can be detained so the provisions of the amendment tabled by the Deputy are already covered by the section.

We have just discussed amendment No. 64 and for the reasons outlined I do not intend to accept the amendments to it that have been tabled except in the sense of considering them for consolidated merchant shipping legislation.

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