Francis O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I will be sharing time with Senator Ned O'Sullivan.

I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the motion on the marine survey, which is brilliant. As Monaghan is an inland county, I ask forgiveness if I am not as well versed as other Members with the shoreline of the country.

Nevertheless, as previous speakers stated, the benefits to the country of this survey are enormous with regard to the commercial shipping and fish trawlers which use our coastline. It will also be of benefit to marine leisure and yachting has been mentioned. Safety at sea is very important and the loss of many lives over the years has saddened many families. Aquaculture and fish farming are important and have improved and grown during the years. Materials such as sand and gravel are extracted for use in the construction industry and coastal projects for environmental protection are very important. The size of the area mapped is five or six times the size of Ireland. Within this area the benefits that may come in the future such as gas and oil exploration are very important. The Government and various people who carried out the survey have done something that will be of great benefit to the country. It will help create jobs in wave and wind power and other renewable energies.