Joe O'Toole (Independent)

People may have left their boats to rot for months on end without paying a fee and Waterways Ireland has certainly dealt with this problem.

There is a need for the Minister of State's Department to take an interest in the issue of accessibility to marinas, both inland and on the coast. His own county is poorly served with marinas and I support people who wish to change this. There is a plan to build one there or close to Sligo. I am unsure as to which county it will be in. There is also a proposal to build one in the Erris area.

Places where people can pull in must be developed as there is a shortage of such places on the River Shannon. I spoke earlier on the need for urgent infrastructural projects but the difficulty in having environmentally friendly marinas built and provided along the Shannon is worrying. I have examined some of the proposals that were ruled out of order and would think myself to be as environmentally friendly, conscious and supportive as anyone.

The Minister of State's Department should get involved in supporting responsible people who are trying to provide a good service by supplying proper environmentally-friendly marinas along the Shannon in particular. It is one of the most beautiful waterways in Europe and can stand up to comparison with any of them. I have been on the waterways of France and elsewhere. They are beautiful but it is difficult to beat those of the Shannon-Erne for its combination of beauty and size. Irish people will never appreciate them in this way. Waterways Ireland is making a showpiece of this facility.

I thank the Minister of State, as I know I have gone off point in my comments.