Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Dempsey. Today, when the media is focused on other issues, this Bill will probably slip by. However, it is remarkably important. I agree wholeheartedly with the comments of Senator Keaveney, who remarked on the importance of the maritime tradition to this island nation. It is an island nation, albeit slightly politically divided. The sea is an important part of our tradition. I have had the great privilege to hold many conversations with Dr. John de Courcy Ireland, a gentleman with a passion beyond belief for a particular subject. His passion was the sea and all things maritime. He was an extraordinary gentleman. He believed we did not focus on the great traditions we had around us.

I am a representative from Galway, where there is a tradition of great fear of the sea. There is also great respect for the sea. There was a tradition whereby people who went out to catch fish in their currachs did not learn to swim. I realise we are deviating somewhat from the issue of merchant shipping but many traditions relate to the sea surrounding this island. From an economic point of view, it is probable we have not valued the sea to the extent other countries have done. I refer to the great joke about the Swiss navy. Switzerland has no sea borders but at one stage it had a larger navy than Ireland, although that is largely a historical matter at this stage.

This Bill relates to safety at sea. I have heard reference made to the lost at sea scheme, a matter we must resolve and put behind us. I note this Bill replaces Shipping Acts from 1894 to 2005. This shows the length of time and the vast history we have in this area. I refer to the ports around the country. The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, has responsibly for transport matters. There are some good ports in this country but in many cases we do not have great ports. We do not have such ports of maritime excellence that other countries have. For example, Rotterdam is a major entry port for Europe. Obviously, Dublin is the largest port but there are several others ports around the country. I refer to Rosslare, Waterford, Cork and Galway, all of which have great traditions attached to them, among many others. Do we use them to the extent to which they could be used for shipping? I do not believe so. Do we have the transport infrastructure, such as rail infrastructure links, to the ports that could help see us into the future and to develop more environmentally strategic transport infrastructure which, I believe, we need? I note the Minister referred to the volcano and the strategic, environmental infrastructure which ports provide, which is absolutely correct. In the days of old, people travelled around the country more by sea than by land. There was the great Eiscir Riada but how did people get from one part of the country to another? Often, it was very dangerous. When one visits some of the islands inhabited by Gráinne Mhaol and so on, one realises that at certain times in our history more people lived on the islands than on the mainland and that the seafaring tradition sustained our people. It is timely to consider the strategic value of the sea and transport by sea, especially freight and human transport by sea.

The sail training vessel, Asgard II, was mentioned. I understand the insurance money for it has not translated into a new sail training vessel. I realise times are tough but the insurance money has been provided and I urge the Minister to consider providing a state of the art sail training vessel for the country, either as a long-term or short-term initiative. I would prefer it as a short-term initiative.

As the Mayor of Galway, I had the great privilege to board the Argentine sail training vessel, the Libertad. Anyone who has been on the Libertad will realise it is an unbelievable advertisement for Argentina. The amount of ambassadorial talent on that ship and the esteem in which it is held throughout the world is remarkable. The vessel bolsters the Argentine Navy and the seafaring traditions of Argentina. The Argentine Navy was set up by an Irishman from Mayo, William Brown, another link to our great maritime tradition.

I refer to the maritime museum set up by John de Courcy Ireland. A present the museum, located in Dún Laoghaire, is not open. I urge the Minister to consider facilitating ways to open it. Money is always an issue in these matters. However, it should be a strategic objective to open that museum. A country such as Ireland, an island nation, deserves and should have a national maritime museum. There is already a suitable building, the Mariners' Church in Dún Laoghaire. As a matter of urgency, we must make a political effort to ensure it opens.

I refer to the Volvo Ocean Race, which strays somewhat from merchant shipping matters. The race highlights what we can achieve in this country. It was the most magnificent event in Galway. I cannot stress enough how magnificent it was. The Government saw it as a magnificent event with great potential. It invested money and it turned out to be one of the greatest events in this country during the recent, difficult years. It provided a great boost to the city I live in. The Taoiseach was at the launch of the event. Since Galway did so well as a stop-over host, it was decided that, for the first time, it would host the final stop-over of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2012. The Government is getting behind this plan and I commend it for doing so. It can only lead to good for our city and country. The international prestige of the event is very important.

Merchant shipping in this country has had its ups and downs. At times, we have had a great tradition. The Minister referred to the volcano and the difficulty in terms of air transport at particular times. We should not rely on one form of transport. Let us consider the difficulties the Isle of Man has had as a very small island. It has had ups and downs in terms of shipping which have had a great effect on that island. We must strategically underpin our trade routes by having a completely sustainable merchant shipping potential. Whether it comprises Irish owned ships is a matter for policy but from a strategic point of view, we need to encourage Irish owned shipping because this is an island nation. If a situation arises, as it did with the volcano, where air transport cannot be relied on, it is very important we have a back-up plan.

Shipping is hugely important from an environmental point of view. Moving goods by ship is much more efficient and less costly. The only downside is the speed of transport. For goods that do not need to be transported quickly, it is important to encourage the use of sea shipping as opposed to air transport. In the context of cheap oil and climate change, we need to focus on far more environmentally-friendly forms of transport. Shipping provides that. I commend the Minister on bringing this Bill before the House and hope we see more Bills on shipping from his Department in the future.