Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and I am pleased to have an opportunity to make a few points on the Maritime Security Bill.

Everyone here knows that terrorism is not just a threat but a reality in Ireland, Europe and across the world. The fact that terrorism is no longer confined to national borders indicates that we can no longer anticipate the methods or groups which may attack civilian or political targets and, in the interest of safety and prevention, we must be equipped for any eventuality. People have suffered at the hands of terrorists mediating through air and air transport. It is, therefore, reasonable to prepare for the potential threat posed from terrorism at sea.

The Maritime Security Bill puts in place legal parameters that intensify the fight against terror and increase international co-operation between countries which will not tolerate offensive and cowardly terrorist attacks on their citizens. By endorsing the legislation, we are saying that in the same way terrorists operate on a cross-border basis, so will we through increased collaboration and unity of approach. We will build on the progress already achieved in this regard and continue to do so in line with the Irish Presidency declaration and the European Council strategic objectives for the EU plan of action to combat terrorism.

In December 2002, the diplomatic conference of the International Maritime Organisation adopted a series of measures to strengthen maritime security, including the preclusion and clamp down on acts of terrorism against shipping. These include a new international shipping port facilities security code. I understand the maritime safety directorate in the Minister's Department is currently involved in the process of co-ordinating the implementation of the new security requirements to ensure all relevant ship owners, ports and port facilities will be compliant by 1 July. The Maritime Security Bill enhances these provisions and creates specific offences against the safety of Irish ships and other ships in Irish territorial waters.

Maritime security has always been an important issue for Fianna Fáil Governments. It is vital that we implement the legislation to give effect to the UN convention for the suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation as a protocol of that convention. The legislation comes in the wake of many other important international conventions which have been adopted by Ireland to combat terrorism and have assisted in legislation such as the Criminal Justice Bill 2002 now before the Dáil. Fianna Fáil is continuing its commitment to develop and enhance our maritime security regime through other endeavours, including the establishment of a new independent maritime safety agency, increased staffing to deliver on port State control commitments and progressing the proposal on particularly sensitive sea areas in consultation with our European colleagues.

These initiatives are all features of a progressive dedicated Government, steadfast in its aims of increasing security on Irish waters and pro-active in its approach to dealing with terrorism. I am pleased that as part of Ireland's Presidency programme a pan-European maritime safety forum was opened to discuss the heightened security threats posed to global shipping by acts of terrorism. In line with the provision of the Maritime Security Bill to increase liaison between states at an international level, the forum will be attended by representatives from EU member states, accession states and other European countries, together with representatives of the European Commission, the European Maritime Safety Agency and key interested parties in the maritime sector. This is the constructive and pro-active approach needed to tackle the tangible problems posed by terrorism. Shipping is one of Ireland's largest tertiary activities and we enjoy some of the best fishing in the world. It is natural, therefore, that the measures to protect this resource are implemented.

By endorsing the Maritime Security Bill, we are offering reassurance to those who trawl our waters that we will not tolerate terrorism of any kind and that we intend to use international networks to prevent such actions. This is extremely important in terms of international shipping and shows that Ireland, while holding the EU Presidency, is keen to contribute to the promotion of safer and more secure shipping in European waters. Following implementation of the Bill, we must continue to be vigilant in the operation of shipping and our ports and continue to be aware of the potential dangers to shipping from acts of terrorism which may arise in port, at offshore terminals or at sea. We must continue to put in place the necessary legislative, administrative and operational provisions to ensure Ireland is not seen as an easy target.

The European Council declaration on terrorism was published last Thursday. It is a commitment by all EU member states to improve the implementation of commitments already undertaken following the terrorist attacks in New York and Madrid. Significant progress on the completion of the ratification of all 12 UN conventions on terrorism, including the 1988 maritime convention and protocol to which the Maritime Security Bill gives effect, is now expected because of this declaration.

I congratulate the Minister on this timely and necessary legislation. Given our Presidency of the European Union, it demonstrates Ireland's willingness to develop a long-term counter-terrorist strategy in line with the wider international community. I support the Bill and commend it to the House.