Seanad debates

Thursday, 23 October 2003

Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

Recent incidents have focused our attention on the vulnerability of our coastline. As an island country, we must always be conscious of it and support measures which will assist in eliminating pollution at sea. It is most important for our coastline, our marine economy and the tourism sector. If we wish to focus people's minds on these Bills, we need only talk about two recent incidents rather than talking about the technical aspects. The Minister of State spoke about one of them. The other is the break up of the Prestige last November off the Galician coast when 77,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil spilled into the sea. We were reminded every night by the television of the effects it had on the coastline of Galicia in Spain and its impact on the tourism industry and the local community. It forcefully brought home to viewers what can happen as a result of such incidents. Interestingly, the vessel was registered in the Bahamas. Would the convention regarding TBT apply to Bahamas registered vessels or are these vessels part of the 75% I mentioned earlier?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.