Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to debate the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment Act 2003 and compliment the Minister on bringing it forward so quickly, following his announcement on 1 September last of a major increase in compensation payments for victims of oil spillages or pollution. The Bill is small and narrowly focused, running to only five sections and one of the Acts it proposes to amend, the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment Act 1998 only ran to 18 sections. The Bill mainly amends the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) Act 1988.