Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I am touched by how many colleagues in different political parties have suddenly expressed such an interest in the welfare of ourselves. I thank the Acting Chairman again. He is correct. As I was getting ready for this debate, I thought I have not had legislation to deal with in the past six months and it struck me as either fortunate or unfortunate that today, of all days, this legislation should arrive.

That said, when I began to get ready for the legislation and began to look into the background of it, the importance and relevance of it quickly became clear. When I looked into the information available on fatalities at sea, I was shocked to learn how many poor souls have been lost. I understand the Marine Casualty Investigation Board reported that 41 fatalities have taken place at sea since 2005. Those fatalities have taken place for many different reasons and it is for some of those reasons that this Bill is being brought in. As was the case in the other House, my party will be supporting this Bill and looking to take as constructive a role as we can in regard to it to see what we can do to deliver its swift passage through the House, but also to see how we can constructively improve it.

Given that I will support the Bill for the reasons outlined, I will limit my comments to those areas to which I will advert on Committee Stage and to which I will table amendments in determining whether the Bill and its implementation can be strengthened. My colleague in the Dáil has touched on the first of these areas, that of the impairment of people responsible for vessels at sea due to alcohol. The people concerned must make decisions on behalf of the crew and others. My party tabled amendments in respect of this matter and the Minister recognised the intent behind them. On Committee Stage I hope to focus on whether aspects of the Bill can be improved to ensure will be more potent in dealing with this matter. Loss of life for any reason is tragic, but loss of life due to the consumption of alcohol at sea is particularly sad. We should use this opportunity to determine whether the State could play a more effective role in this regard.

On Committee Stage I will examine the position on jet skis and other vessels and vehicles at sea that move at a faster pace and have greater mobility than the larger vessels on which the Bill focuses. I will also examine the section dealing with chemical tanker rules. I will put some points and questions to the Minister on how we define the duties of the owners and masters of such vessels. I will also make some observations in that respect.

I will examine the Bill's provisions on nuclear carriage rules. While I welcome the fact that the Bill has important comments to make in this regard, I will make a number of points, in particular, on the definition of an incident from a nuclear carriage point of view.

I will examine the effect of improved regulation on pricing, for example, regulations in respect of sea passengers with particular forms of disability. One of the few risks in greater regulation indicated by the regulatory impact analysis which was helpfully supplied for this legislation was a potential change in the prices charged to persons using some of the services in question. I would like to discuss this point with the Minister further.

We welcome and support the legislation and will do our best to take a constructive approach to it. I have outlined some of the areas I will discuss at greater length on Committee Stage, to which I look forward.