Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State and this necessary legislation which was a long time coming. Several years ago, residents and users of the marina in Terryglass, a small and scenic village, a regular winner of the Tidy Towns Competition and an attractive destination in the summer months, complained to me about groups of jet skiers on the lake. It would not have been an issue if the jet skiers had gone out into the lake. However, they were used too close to the lake's edge and caused a considerable degree of noise, disruption and disorder in the area. Under no circumstances would the jet skiers listen to the pleas of the residents and visitors for some calm and peace. The area was rendered unusable for the quiet leisure craft. Subsequently, it was learned in discussions with the county council that there was little it could do to enforce regulations because legislation was required. In that context, this Bill is to be welcomed and I hope local authorities fully implement it.

Most of this activity takes place in the evenings or at weekends, including bank holiday weekends. It will mean that a local authority must have an officer assigned to places like Dromineer, Terryglass and Garykennedy in north Tipperary on Lough Derg to ensure that the regulations are upheld. Will the local authority act only on a complaint, for instance? By-laws must be discussed at strategic policy committee level before being accepted by the local authority so there will have to be a level of understanding and public consultation and awareness. I hope that will ensure the smooth operation of the Act and also that the public will be fully informed and will co-operate with the local authority or whichever body is involved in ensuring that the by-laws work in practice. The issue of the implementation of the Act arises there but in principle the regulation is necessary.

I agree with much of what Senator Minihan and others said about safety regarding these craft and specifically jet skis. We may need to consider issuing safety certificates to users. It is worrying that people can simply buy jet skis and go out on the water. We do not want to ban jet skis, nor does this legislation, but there is much to be said for designating parts of beaches or lakeshores specifically for jet ski use. Users should not be allowed near the shore, near where children are playing or near where people are using other pleasure craft in a quiet manner. Jet ski users should not be allowed create disturbance to other people. On one visit abroad I noted that jet ski usage was allowed only after 7.30 p.m. There is something to be said for that because most people would have left the beach at such a time.

The legislation is welcome. I commend the Minister and his officials for bringing it forward. The Minister of State said in his address that Waterways Ireland was excluded from the legislation but had its own codes and powers under other legislation. Can he assure me that Waterways Ireland will have the same level of control and authority available to it as he is giving to bodies under this Act? One would not want a difference in approach, or in authority and power, between local authorities and harbours on one hand, and Waterways Ireland on the other. The issue under discussion may not be so important for Waterways Ireland.

I look forward to seeing the legislation enacted. Presumably it will not be implemented for this season, since by-laws have to be passed, but I encourage the Minister and his Department to ensure that the local authorities and bodies who will have a role under the Act will implement the legislation as soon as possible.