John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is, perhaps, somewhat unusual for a Deputy who represents Carlow and Kilkenny to speak on a Bill about merchant shipping. Strangely enough, however, even though Kilkenny, in which I reside, is a land-locked county in theory, there are two ports there and they are located on the Barrow and Suir estuaries. I refer to the Port of Waterford, the entirety of which is located in County Kilkenny, and the Port of New Ross, part of which lies within the county.

I welcome the Bill which updates a very old item of existing legislation, namely, the Mercantile Marine Act 1955. Reform is required because, as has been the case in so many other sectors and areas of life, the shipping industry has changed dramatically in the intervening period. I welcome the introduction of a new register of ships under section 9 and the new temporary registration process in respect of pleasure craft, including jet skis, for which section 24 makes provision. I also welcome the widespread public consultation which took place on the Bill. Section 9 also makes provision for the introduction of a new centralised electronic register of ships.

My final point is similar to that made by Deputy Seán Kyne in respect of Galway Port. The old Port of Waterford was located in the centre of the city and the quays and many of the old facilities relating thereto remain in place. During the summer, several cruise liners visited the old port. In that context, there have been outstanding difficulties for many years with cruise liners accessing the facility. However, it is quite suited to accommodating them.

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The old Waterford Port in the heart of the city is sufficiently big to cater for these liners. It is important that it is right at the heart or in the centre of the city, in particular on the north wharfs, as they are called, where there has not been much by way of activity, economic or otherwise, for many years since the port facility moved some miles downstream to Belview in Slieverue, County Kilkenny. There are new members involved in the board and I know that those in the port are keen to ensure that this cruise liner facility is extended and improved in Waterford.

Members will be familiar with the fact that twice in recent years Waterford has paid host to the tall ships annual event. This was a major success. I need not remind the Minister that Waterford city, in particular, as well as the south east as a whole, has the highest level of unemployment in the country. In or around or touching 20% of the population in the working category are not gainfully employed.

Tourism is a sector of the economy that has grown significantly in recent years and there is more room for expansion in Waterford and the surrounding areas of County Waterford, south Wexford and south County Kilkenny. With this in mind I wish to use this opportunity to voice my support for the extension of the facilities at the old port in the centre of Waterford city for more cruise liners to be accommodated. Significant public funding has been invested already in the heart of Waterford city in what is now known as the Viking triangle. The Minister is probably aware of this because of another aspect of his brief. Recently, several festivals were held and several visitors from outside the city remarked on the investment and the special space and area that has been created in the heart of the city. It extends from Reginald's Tower, which is, in and of itself, a sight of significant national importance and heritage in the heart of the city. It is situated off the quays and in the immediate area there has been investment in what is called the Viking triangle. With a view to maximising the possibilities for this I urge those in the Department to do everything in their power to ensure that the arrival of cruise liners and tourists into the heart of Waterford city, which services all of the surrounding hinterland in County Waterford and neighbouring counties, would be promoted as part of a significant new venture and a new departure for the tourism sector and thus benefit the economy of the city of Waterford and its immediate surroundings.

I welcome the fact that we are updating the 1955 Act with these provisions. I do not have any specific recommendations to make with regard to amendments or changes that I would like to see made.

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