Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The semi-private sector is carrying this out. It would be fine if the State were providing the marinas but they depend on available funding and the priority issues we must take into consideration. I favour our supporting the private sector in establishing marinas around our coasts. There are various issues because it is not just a question of commencing the establishment of marinas but also of a foreshore lease. In instances where this permission is required there is a statutory process that one must pursue. When an application for a foreshore lease or something else is received by the Department our officials try to deal with it as quickly as possible if it is valid. There are criticisms that applications take a long time, which is true if an application is invalid, but it is the same as a request for planning permission, which cannot be dealt with if it is invalid.

The legislation will be available to me to establish the small vessel register. There may be some commencement dates, etc., but it will be available to me. I do not wish to give the impression we have such a surplus of people in the relevant directorate and in the marine surveyors office that this can be done immediately. We have a plan and we are working on evaluating the comments received as well as those from this House. It will not just be a matter of registering a vessel. It will be a question of looking at all the safety factors to ensure each vessel complies with any safety measures we introduce. We can have all the safety measures and legislation in the world but anyone going to sea without a life jacket or any vessel going out to sea without the basic equipment required is being totally irresponsible.

I am sure we can all think of instances where people have not only put their own lives in danger, which is in their own hands, but have put the lives of the coast guard and those in the other voluntary bodies, of which there are so many around the country, at risk. Today provides me with an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who give their time, including those in the coast and cliff rescue service, on a voluntary basis. Their lives are put in danger and I hope that is something about which individuals going out to sea without the necessary safety equipment will think. Some 90% of people act responsibly.

As regards environmental issues in marinas, on the Shannon and elsewhere, perhaps the local authorities or Waterways Ireland could consider basic recycling facilities rather than have people dump everything overboard, which was the practice in the past. People have become much more responsible and I hope our calls do not fall on deaf ears.