Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These amendments arise from an issue brought to my attention on Second Stage by Senator Hildegarde Naughton and by some of the representative bodies. They relate to the powers of the harbour master under the Harbours Act 1996 to give certain directions to the master of a ship using the harbour for the purpose of regulating the navigation of that ship. In response to the points raised, amendment No. 19 proposes to include harbour masters in the list of authorised persons under subsection 39(1). This makes a harbour master an authorised person for the purpose of the enforcement of sections 11, 23, 24, 26 to 28, inclusive, 37 and 39 of the Bill and any regulations made under those sections, as set out in section 40. Amendment No. 20 is a consequential amendment.