Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I thank Senator Grace O'Sullivan of the Green Party and the Civil Engagement Group for their commitment to the motion. I do not think we need to question Senator O'Sullivan's bona fides or her commitment to this whole area. She is an expert and has taught us all a hell of a lot about marine life. Behind all this it is about the protection of biodiversity, the rich sea life that we have and the need to protect our waters. I too am conscious of the east coast but particularly of Donegal, where I recently met farmers and a number of councillors involved in the fishing industry in Killybegs. I went on a trip there and was reminded yet again of the importance of the whole fishing industry to Ireland as an island. The amendment moved by Senator Craughwell is an important and reasonable compromise with the 30% target. That is what the Government is working towards and we should support it. We need to reach ground here.

On legislation in general, I am saying to every Minister and Minister of State who comes in here between now and the summer recess that we are being told time and time again that we have not got enough business to do in this House. We are sitting a day and half this week and a day and a half next week. I am calling on Senators to use their influence with the Government. We can initiate business in this House. The Minister of State talks about pending legislation and I would be interested to hear what he has to say about legislation in respect of this particular matter. I challenge him and the Government to start initiating legislation in the Seanad. We are paid handsomely to do a job. We are willing, able, ready and committed. We have a Chamber here. Let us get on and do the business we are meant to be doing. It is up to the Ministers and their officials to prepare legislation. It is the Government's call to initiate legislation in this House. I hope next week that the Ministers I meet will be able to say they are going to take up that challenge. That is what this House is all about. The Taoiseach came in here only once since I was here and talked about the need to perfect and work on legislation as being a principal role of Seanad Éireann. Let us have no more excuses about legislation. Let us bring the legislation in here and work on it and send it back to the Dáil. I am going to tell the same story to every Minister and I am going to keep a log. We have time and we should be doing legislation. That is our primary function.

I think the amendment proposed by Senator Craughwell is reasonable and I hope the Minister of State will reflect on it. In terms of the national marine spatial strategy, headings have been published by the Minister of State's Department. It is in his area of responsibility. He might share with us how it is going. What is happening to it? I think it is a really good strategy and should be part of the national development planning framework. It is a separate document. I request that we have statements on it in the Seanad the week after next. The Minister of State might give a commitment to send someone in to talk us through it. It is a very important piece of work and it is important that we see how it is progressing.