Results 12,301-12,320 of 13,214 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Wild salmon stocks are under threat from a variety of adverse environmental and other pressures which impact on marine survival as well as in our rivers and estuaries. As Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, I am fully aware that these pressures, along with excessive exploitation of salmon stocks, pose a significant threat to the long-term sustainability of this valuable...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004: Motion for Earlier Signature. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I take this opportunity to thank Members and officials of the House for their assistance over the past number of weeks in ensuring this Bill could be enacted, subject to its earlier signature by the President, within the next number of days. I also thank the officials in my Department who worked exceedingly hard, burned the midnight oil and even returned from holidays, as they realised the...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senators for bringing forward their formal consideration of the Dáil amendments to this Bill. I have arranged for detailed explanatory notes on the amendments to be distributed and will be glad to answer any questions on them. We debated the Bill here then referred it to the Dáil, after which it became necessary to amend it to overcome some difficulties that could otherwise have...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Perhaps I might respond to Senator Kenneally regarding retrospection. If this Bill is enacted as a result of an earlier signature by the President, we will revert to the position we were in for approximately 70 years. The advice of the Attorney General is that we are restoring the status quo. It confirms people who hold licences or leases in their secure occupation of the areas concerned and...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: These amendments update for deterrent purposes in line with the rest of the Bill the penalties and other provisions of the 1947, 1979, 1992 and 2000 Merchant Shipping Acts and repeal additional enactments listed in the Schedule which are superseded by the Bill's provisions or are spent.

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I do not foresee any financial implications as a result of these provisions. Had I not introduced this group of amendments in regard to vessels below 24m, the financial implications for the owners of such vessels are too horrific to contemplate. In such circumstances, not one of those vessels would be able to go to sea after next Friday. We are all aware how long it takes to secure a...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The third group consists of amendments Nos. 29, 31 to 36, inclusive, 43, 45, 54, 57, 65 and 71 to 73, inclusive, which relate to boats that are less than 15m. in length. These are the boats in respect of which a licence offer was made after 1 May 2004. These amendments fill major gaps in the law or strengthen existing provisions in the Bill as passed by Seanad Éireann or other Acts. They...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The intention is that this will cover boats in general. I have already referred to the pressure under which the marine survey office and all the surveyors operate. Although jet skis are not yet registered, I propose to introduce a small vessels register, SVR, for this purpose as soon as possible. This can be done under existing legislation.

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I will first address the issue of weighing. A load on, load off container must be transported on a truck. Its weight may be calculated by means of simple mathematics. The truck, which is weighed on the way in and out, has a tare weight normally displayed on the fuel tank. From experience, we determined that the weight limit for every container should be 42 tonnes, which reduced the overall...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The fourth group of amendments consists of amendments Nos. 6, 8 to 11, inclusive, 14 to 28, inclusive, 30, 37 to 42, inclusive, 44, 46 to 53, inclusive, 58 to 64, inclusive, 66 to 70, inclusive, and 74 to 77, inclusive. These are drafting amendments needed to clarify or correct the text for the internal consistency of the Bill and for consistency with other Acts which are to be cited when the...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (23 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Primary responsibility for protecting water quality rests with the relevant local authorities and proposals to deal with environmental threats in this area is a matter for these bodies to decide, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am aware, through the Western Regional Fisheries Board, of the concerns held by local stakeholders about the...

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (23 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the protection and conservation of inland fisheries is a matter for the regional fisheries boards, in this case, the Western Regional Fisheries Board. I am aware, through that board, that an aggressive alien plant species known as Lagarosiphon major or curly water weed has been identified in Lough Corrib. This weed, originally from Africa,...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (23 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: On 15 June last, I was pleased to launch, on behalf of the Royal Irish Academy and the Irish Char Conservation Group, their publication entitled "Threatened Irish Freshwater Fishes". This publication makes a very valuable contribution to our knowledge of some of Ireland's rarer native species, which are an important and unique aspect of our natural heritage. The publication brings together...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (23 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources does not have a role in industrial relations matters. I have no statutory function in relation to seafarers' wages. An agreed joint statement was issued from Irish Ferries and SIPTU on 16 June 2005, stating that the parties have agreed to appoint assessors to conduct a comprehensive review of operations encompassing the Irish Sea...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together. In April 2004, the European Commission convened a meeting with Ireland and the United Kingdom to examine the management of the wild Atlantic salmon in Community waters and, in particular, to look at the situation with regard to their interceptory fisheries of mixed stocks of salmon inside the 12-mile limits. The Department prepared a...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (21 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the protection and conservation of inland fisheries is a matter for the regional fisheries boards, in this case, the Western Regional Fisheries Board. I am aware through that board that an aggressive alien plant species known as lagarosiphon major or curly water weed has been identified in Lough Corrib. I understand, that this weed,...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (21 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: In accordance with the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, every vessel which carries radio-transmitting equipment must obtain a ship station radio licence from the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. One of the requirements of the licence is that the radio operator on board the vessel must have an appropriate radio operator's certificate of competency. ComReg also issues radio...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (21 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The Marine Institute is investigating a potential case of bonamia ostrea in a wild oyster bed in Lough Foyle. The Marine Institute carried out tests for bonamia in Lough Foyle as part of its routine monitoring programme. Having identified a suspect positive result, the institute then sent further samples to the Community reference laboratory, CRL, in France for confirmatory testing, as...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (21 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: In accordance with the Fishing Vessel (Basic Safety Training) Regulations, SI 587 of 2001, all crew members of fishing vessels must undertake basic safety training consisting of personal survival techniques, elementary first aid and fire prevention, health and safety training. However, the dates for the completion of a basic safety training course depend on whether the person is a new entrant...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (21 Jun 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 359 together. The pier in question is not in public ownership, and therefore Kerry County Council is not responsible for carrying out repairs to the pier. Responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the pier is a matter for the owner. There is no Exchequer funding available for the repair and maintenance of privately owned piers.