Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine and his officials. I was one of those who was most concerned that the marine portfolio should be retained as part of this Ministry in 2002 because that was one of the most enlightened innovations introduced by Fianna Fáil when it went back into Government in 1987. It was an initiative of the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, and it is important that such initiatives should be maintained.

This is important legislation which will complete the mesh of protections for our marine resources, although it does not include oil pollution or radioactive substances. The international community has learned the hard way over the past 30 years following wrecks involving tankers and ships carrying dangerous substances. These ships operate in many cases under a flag of convenience, the ownership is unclear, the ship is old and potentially unseaworthy and little compensation is available for coastal areas affected by wrecks.

Last week our beaches were highlighted. Usually at this time of year the list of beaches that meet European and domestic environmental standards is published. It has not often been acknowledged that Ireland has exceptionally clean water along its coast. While one can swim in warmer waters in the Mediterranean Sea, one can swim in cleaner water off the west coast. That is an important tourism resource but it is also part of the clean environment we have, yet because of our position in regard to shipping lanes, we are as vulnerable as most countries to ship wrecks and so on. By tightening the protections, insurance and indemnities required, the people who operate on thin margins and do not have properly-trained crews or seaworthy vessels and so on may be deterred because they must take the proper precautions, otherwise it will cost them. The word "cowboys" is wrong in the context of the sea and "pirate" is also not quite correct. That network of protections is important to us as an island nation and, therefore, I warmly support the legislation.