Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. I will be brief. Like Senator Dooley, I am a member of the transport committee, which has engaged in an inordinate amount of informed debate and consideration of this issue. Senator Dooley referred to the issue of architecture and to Michael Kingston whose testimony and evidence are to be commended.

This is a technical Bill. It is about protecting and saving lives and ensuring that our Marine Accident and Investigation Board has confidence. I am heartened by the Minister's comments in regard to the transitional nature of this measure. I thank him and his Department for their work on it. It is important that we move forward. The amendment tabled by Senator Boyhan is in the spirit of trying to improve the Bill in creating confidence and certainty. I hope we can take on board some of the points which, as Senator Dooley indicated, arose out of the committee's hearings. I have listened to the very informative "Doc on one". It should be compulsory listening for those of us in the Houses of the Oireachtas dealing with this particular Bill and future legislation.

The Minister's comments today are positive. I take them in the spirit in which they were made.