Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I join in welcoming Mr. McDonald. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for bringing this legislation before the House.

As he will be aware, jet skis are a menace in some areas, particularly in tourist resorts. Last year, a team arrived in Ballyheigue with jet skis on trailors. These people drove through swimmers, including women and children, with a total disregard for the safety of the people on the beaches and those living in the area. I welcome the legislation and express appreciation to the Minister of State who has taken the initiative in bringing the legislation before the House. I assure him of our full support in implementing it.

In that regard, I raise queries about the implementation aspect of the legislation. To date, there has been very little implementation of whatever regulation was put in place. People have been behaving in a dangerous and irresponsible manner on many beaches in isolated resorts in coastal regions. Some of these people travel long distances. Earlier this year, I saw a number of jet skis on an isolated beach in west Clare. I live in an area where there are miles of very safe and isolated beaches and where swimmers are suffering because of the activities of these people. Some of these people travelled a great distance from Kilkee to Dunbeg Bay and invaded areas where people, including children, were swimming. There was dangerous irresponsibility on the part of those using them. When I visited the location of this incident, I was asked by those suffering whether anything could be done to control jet skiers. However, I discovered it was a matter for the Garda, which is aware of its responsibilities in this area but has been limited in taking action except where a superintendent or garda had a particular interest. By and large, gardaí feel it is matter for the Naval Service despite the Naval Service not having a capacity to access most of the relevant areas without using its smaller vessels. In any case, by the time the Naval Service arrives, jet skiers could be miles away as they travel at very high speeds as well as acting irresponsibly and irrationally.

On occasion, there has been a risk of serious accidents involving jet skis colliding, and I have witnessed six machines together in one bay, zig-zagging and carrying out manoeuvres at high speeds. Onlookers have been horrified at the prospect of collisions and bodies being washed up on the shore. There have already been incidents where lives have been lost and a young man lost his life in the past two years in the home area of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne.

The law has not been clear on this issue until now and vigorous implementation of the legislation is required immediately passed by the Houses. In advance of the passage of the Bill, warning notices might be issued through the recognised channels to the different areas involved. The notices would designate those with responsibility, particularly inshore fisheries officers, and request them to be vigilant in detecting offenders and making them act in a reasonable and responsible way.

I do not want jet skis banned. It is possible to designate special areas where jet skiers can carry out their manoeuvres and high jinks and I have no problem with that. For example, several areas of the Shannon Estuary would not come under Shannon navigation rules and there would be little traffic and few people swimming or engaged in recreation. It would be simple for local authorities to designate certain areas where jet skiing could be carried out freely. Senator Finucane will be aware of areas close to Foynes where it is possible for this to happen without interfering with the leisure activities of other locals or the traffic to and from Foynes Harbour. It should be easy for jet skiers to operate without causing danger to themselves or others.

It is a matter not only for vigilance but enforcement. Many jet skiers feel they can quickly escape from one location to another. For example, jet skis in Kilkee Bay could be quickly driven to Doonbeg Bay, around Mutton Island and on to Spanish Point. It is open season for some jet skiers. I am surprised by some of those involved in this activity, who seem responsible in other matters but who have no sense of responsibility when they get on one of these machines. They drive them in an outrageous manner, putting the lives of others, especially children, at risk.

Previous speakers referred to the exclusion of Waterways Ireland from the Bill. This area needs to be legislated for and I have no hesitation in saying that Waterways Ireland would be irresponsible in its attitude if it did not comply with the intention of this legislation. Perhaps it might be necessary to amend the Bill to cover Waterways Ireland. I am sure the organisation has a clear knowledge and understanding of what has happened in these areas. It has overall responsibility for Shannon navigation and Northern waters, and I believe legislation in Northern Ireland covers this activity. If amendments must be made to the Bill in this regard, it should be done speedily. The exemption of Waterways Ireland should be removed from the Bill before it passes through the Houses.

This is useful legislation. Like other speakers, I do not agree with a total ban on jet skiing and believe it possible to designate areas where it can occur. However, it is neither responsible nor acceptable that those who engage in the activity can indiscriminately enter isolated coastal areas, and some not so isolated such as Ballyheigue, Lahinch or Kilkee where I have witnessed them, and behave in an irresponsible manner, putting others at risk. The message should go out loud and clear from the House that it is not acceptable.