Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The aim of the small vessel register, which will be known as the SVR, is to provide, as has been suggested by the Senator, a simpler form of registration. The registration of small vessels should then be almost commensurate with small boats and should not be similar in any way to the registration of any fishing vessel. The only vessels currently registered are fishing vessels. Under a new scheme approved last year for potting vessels — many of the smaller vessels that, for the most part, are potting only for lobster and other forms of shellfish — we are currently registering those vessels. Possibly 800 registration numbers are being offered to the owners of potting vessels, which were registered in the past but had no official recognition. Until these vessels are registered, we will not be able to fund them in any way so that they can pursue their activities regarding potting for shellfish. The registration of potting vessels is a mammoth task.

The safety regulations include measures regarding life jackets for smaller boats; the EPERB, with which every boat must be fitted; compulsory training courses in the use of EPERBs, which are provided by BIM or the private sector, and all the other items required on board boats. At one stage, I thought the use of a second boat behind the first boat to tow all the equipment would be necessary but, by and large, this equipment can be stored on one boat. This equipment can be expensive but one cannot compromise on safety. BIM will provide 40% of the funding for this equipment. Surveyors must certify that they are happy, which can be also be expensive but is grant aided.

There are many benefits to be derived from the small vessels register. A public consultation process, which took place in 2004, involved all stakeholders. We will take many of their views and the views expressed in this House into consideration. The small vessels register will form part of an overhaul of the registration process by the relevant directorate within the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Initially, the register will be introduced on a voluntary basis. I am anxious to ensure this scheme is put on a statutory basis, which may require secondary legislation. The maritime safety directorate of the Department is currently evaluating comments received during the consultation process and I will feed the views expressed in this House into this process. It is not as simple as going out and putting a number on every boat but an identification system is needed. For most boats, it is a matter for their owners to decide what name they want for the boat, but this does not constitute registration. I assure the House that the Government is moving on the issue of registration, an area which has been neglected in the past. Potting vessels from 0 to 6 m are being registered. There are different categories of potting vessels: 6 to 9 m, 9 to 12 m and 12 to 15 m. We are dealing with all of that and hopefully, this will be another item on my agenda.

Regarding a matter raised earlier on today, Waterways Ireland, one of the six North-South Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement of 1999, now has direct responsibility for the management, maintenance and development of navigable waters. When the Bill was initiated in June 2004, we could not cover these waterways because we had not reached agreement between the agreed structures in the North and South. As a result of the work of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, we have reached agreement leading to the amendment to incorporate harbour authorities and Waterways Ireland.