Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

Like the other speakers, I welcome the Bill. As Senator Terry has said, every effort should be made to combat drug trafficking. I ask the Minister of State to state briefly the position in relation to tourist pleasure boats.

One can travel now from Kilrush to Dingle, to Kinsale, across to the south of England, on to France and right along the French coast, down into Spain and then over to North Africa. I am sure pleasure boats can come in the other direction also. Are any real checks done on those types of yachts or cruise boats that transport tourists? People stay on such boats overnight when they dock at various marinas along their routes.

We have a certain amount of control at airports and major sea ports but have we any real control when it comes to cruise boats and pleasure craft? In Ireland they can travel up the Shannon all the way to Northern Ireland. It is a great way for people to travel from a tourism point of view, but one wonders whether other activities might be carried on at the same time. I hope this type of activity will be covered in this Bill also because one never knows what can take place.