Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I commend the Minister of State and his officials for the extensive briefing notes made available to us in advance of today's final examination of the legislation. The briefing is essential and I wish that other Ministers would take it on board because without it we could not perform our role adequately in regard to such extensive amendments, although some are purely technical. There are 70 miscellaneous amendments and 14 new sections. That is a very extensive reworking of the Bill. On the other hand, the Minister of State has very much responded to matters raised with him and has at all times shown flexibility regarding this legislation, which has been vastly improved as a result. We will be considering only the groupings of amendments, but I specifically commend the Minister of State on amendment No. 26, which increases the maximum fine on conviction for taking or sending an unseaworthy vessel out to sea from €100,000 to €250,000. The level of fines is an indication of how we view the offence, and there are a fair number of amendments regarding unseaworthy vessels. This entire area clearly needed a great deal of work and the Minister has shown himself willing and able to respond in that regard. I recall, when this Bill originally came to us, that some concern was expressed regarding jet skis. The Minister has not only responded to that but to other issues too, making this fine legislation.