Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

We have discussed the flag issue on other sections and I propose to insert it again. The Minister is making a strong case with regard to it. Past experience has not vindicated what the Minister stated on the extent to which we could monitor or invigilate all ships travelling on Irish waters. There is responsibility for the flag state and those ships which joined our register in recent years, and we are in a position to invigilate them. However, there is still a problem with ships travelling through our waters. I know we are discussing high-speed craft.

On Committee Stage we discussed accessibility. It is a separate issue but I wonder whether the Minister has done anything on it. I may have included it in Committee Stage amendments. Was the matter of accessibility in catamarans which may be used for ferry travel addressed in the changes made by the Minister?

I have already discussed this point and do so for the last time today. I do not think the Minister takes the flag issue seriously enough. The Acting Chairman is a former distinguished chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and is aware of some of the issues raised and brought to our attention during the 29th Dáil. It is still unsatisfactory and an area in which we need legislation. We should move on this and not let the good name of Ireland ever be sullied through ships adopting flags of convenience simply to get rid of their workforce and put them on wages below the minimum wage with very bad working conditions. Again, I am not quite happy with the Minister in this regard. I would like to hear him again on it.

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