John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this Bill. Coming from a maritime county, I am very much aware of the different types of ships and boats that operate in our waters. This Bill is a long time coming. As Deputy Dooley said, Noel Dempsey, when Minister for Transport, launched a national consultation process on the registration of maritime vessels with the objective of developing a modern, comprehensive and centralised register.

This is what the Minister will implement.

The purpose of the Bill is to update, restate and clarify the law on the registration of vessels. Ship registration is the process by which ships are documented, flagged and given nationality. The nationality allows a ship to travel internationally as it is proof of ownership of the vessel, and ship registration applies to domestic and international ships. We welcome the fact the Bill will expand the categories of vessels to include jet skis. The situation regarding jet skis has been of major concern, particularly along the coastline, for quite a number of years. Every year Courtown in County Wexford has an influx of jet skis, and how the owners operate them has caused enormous concern for those who use the quiet beaches of Courtown and other parts of County Wexford. There has been no regulation or control and much anti-social behaviour by the owners of jet skis. More important, there have been a number of accidents resulting in people having to go to Wexford hospital and other hospitals in the area, which in itself causes major problems. I welcome the fact jet skis will be dealt with. We need very strong legislation and it needs to be implemented by various strands of the organisations in each county, with the Garda being the main organisation. Local authority beach officers and other people who work the beaches during the summer should have a certain amount of power to take on those who do not operate jet skis in a respectful way. Serious concern has been raised over the years and I welcome the fact the Minister will deal with it effectively.

I missed the first part of the Minister's speech, but I am not aware of anything in the Bill about workers' rights. I do not know how the Minister will deal with this. Many foreign ships come to Ireland and to the ports in Waterford and Dublin. Workers may not have been paid for weeks on end but we do not seem to have any control when this happens in Irish territorial waters. Can anything be put into legislation to deal with it? Usually the ship is left there for quite some time and the workers sit in protest, but no one seems to be able to make a decision on whether these workers will be paid. Serious concern has been expressed at Rosslare Port in particular. Recently I received a letter from workers in Rosslare Port with a heading regarding a threat to Irish seafarers' jobs on the Stena Line ferries. They feel that changes coming about will mean the jobs of Irish people will be replaced by yellow pack workers. Stena Line is seeking a 10% reduction in salaries over the next two years and a 10% reduction in employment. It is speaking about outsourcing the work. This will create serious problems for people in my constituency in particular. How can this be dealt with and how can the rights of workers be protected? There seems to be alarming concern about how workers are treated on ships, not only in Ireland but internationally. They do not seem to have any great workers' rights or conditions or adequate payment. It is not the Minister's fault, and no Minister has dealt with it, but perhaps the time has come to put it on the agenda and see how we can deal with it.

I welcome the fact the 1955 law on ship registration will be updated in the Bill. As Deputy Dooley stated, it is important that ships fly the Irish flag with pride. When one goes to Amsterdam or other ports outside Ireland one sees ships flying the national colours with pride.

I am sure the Irish Maritime Development Office is very supportive of the Minister. Does it still have a role in promoting and assisting the development of Irish shipping, shipping services and seafarer training; liaising with, supporting and marketing the shipping and shipping services sector; and advising the Minister on the development and co-ordination of policy in the shipping and shipping services sector? What role did it play in the legislation before us? Is it still on the ball? It was very good in the past and I am sure it is still the same.

In August 2013 a press release was issued stating a global shipping hub was planned for the Dublin docklands on the scale of the IFSC. I believe a private consortium put together the proposal to develop it. Coming from a maritime county I think it is a great idea and it should be supported by the Government, the IDA and other State agencies. When the Minister, replies will he tell us what stage this is that? It would be a very important development now that the Minister is introducing legislation to control and ensure our ships are registered, safe and up to date. Such a development would be an opportunity. We are a maritime country. It was stated that up to 3,500 jobs could be created, and in the current climate we could certainly do with this. It is important that the project be nursed along and brought to fruition as quickly as possible.

Overall I welcome the fact the Bill is before the House and that the legislation will deal with the registration of ships, safety, jet skis, ensuring ships are up to standard and safe and that those using them can travel in the knowledge their lives will not be at risk and legislation is in place to ensure their rights are protected. I welcome the Bill. When the Minister replies, will he speak about job protection and the rights of workers on ships?

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