Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This amendment also arises from the detailed discussion here on Committee Stage about comprehensive and rigorous maritime safety provisions. This amendment is recommended by the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General to fill a major gap in the law. It makes clear the meaning of the term "operate" in connection with any vessel to establish whether a person has any responsibility for anything untoward that involves the vessel and results in a loss of life or injury to persons. Thus, the term "operate", as now being defined for the provisions of Part 3, would cover any reckless operation of essential vessel equipment or failure to operate such equipment properly or at all when full and proper operation is required, for example, as tragically occurred at Zeebrugge when the hull doors of the ferry Herald of Free Enterprise were left open, causing the ferry to capsize with a considerable loss of life.