David Norris (Independent)

Has the Government any plans to ask the European Union to ensure that internationally there are regulations governing the kind of craft that ply through EU waters? I am thinking, in particular, of the disaster of the Prestige, a most unfortunate name for a boat. This type of incident has happened previously on several occasions. It is not acceptable that there should be this kind of international envelope of registration, as a result of which we do not know who owns the boat or what safety regulations are in place. This will have a huge impact on Spanish fishing. The Spanish were very irresponsible in insisting that the boat be pushed further out to sea. It has created a disaster in their own waters and they will now be more insistent in trying to get into our waters to rape the fish from our stocks that they neglected.

I ask you, a Chathaoirligh, to look, through the relevant committee, at the dictatorial way in which the Ceann Comhairle possesses the meeting room downstairs. Members in the Engineering Block, in particular, have no place where they can meet people in wheelchairs.