Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

She is much younger than me. I am sorry I started that. I should not try to correct the Senator.

The agreement reached by Terence O'Neill and Seán Lemass was very much of its time. As the Minister has rightly pointed out, as a result of globalisation, it is now difficult to legislate and regulate. This attempt to move a good neighbour agreement reached in the 1960s into legislation will have untold and unintentional consequences. We have not had an opportunity to assess this. I would not compare this Bill to the Heritage Bill 2016. It is not quite as bad as that, but it is going in a similar direction. We have to protect the rights of our fishermen. We also have to protect the environment. The last time the Minister was in the House, he mentioned the Marine Stewardship Council's certificate. The first time it was introduced in relation to Irish bottom mussel seed production was in 2013. The source of the data for 2000 to 2060 values is Bord Iascaigh Mhara. We have seen a significant decrease since 2004 or 2005 and there has to be concern. The regulations were not being enforced and there was no sign of their enforcement. I have to return to that point and sincerely urge caution in that respect. I accept the good intentions of the Minister in pointing out that there are problems with Senator David Norris' amendment. Members of this House have had to react to the Bill without having an opportunity to be properly informed on it. That is why I repeat that this legislation needs to go back to Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn's committee for indepth scrutiny. All Members of the House who are being fair will join me in urging the Minister to take a breath and allow time for a proper investigation before making an informed decision on the legislation he is proposing.