Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the House with this, his first Bill. Fianna Fáil welcomes and supports the Bill. As the Minister of State outlined, the Bill provides for the establishment of the marine accident investigative unit within the Department of Transport and for a regulatory regime to be put in place for the construction and operation of offshore service vessels operating in Ireland to support the offshore renewable energy sector as well as for the carriage of industrial personnel.

This Bill is necessary to provide the most robust system for ensuring that offshore service vessels are safe to operate and provide protection to the crew and industrial personnel being carried. In this regard, the provisions of this new Bill are necessary to facilitate the further development of the offshore wind sector. As such, the Bill is at the centre of our future economic and sovereign prosperity. It is timely, given the significant potential we have that is yet to be realised, in many cases right along our coastline. The previous Minister was very much focused on the east coast. Given the part of the world the Minister of State comes from, I hope and expect changes in that regard this time around. Where the wind energy sector is concerned, all locations should get the opportunity to move at the one time. The potential for wind energy that we have on the west coast is massive. From my own perspective - Senator Boyle will back me on this - the location off the north-west coast is probably the second most advantageous site in the world. It has considerable potential for energy for this island - not just for the island itself, but for export to the EU as well. I have visited Rossaveal and seen the level of preparatory works that have taken place there. We have a great deal of work to do, but this Bill is an important piece in building the foundations in that regard.

The marine accident investigation unit will carry out marine safety investigations into accidents involving vessels in Irish waters and Irish-flagged vessels anywhere in the world. International alignment of our standards in investigations is important in that regard. I am glad this Bill will take care of that so that those investigations that do take place, wherever the vessels may be, will all be of a similar international standard. That is very important.

The establishment of the marine accident investigation unit will ensure that Ireland also complies with EU legislation on the designation of a marine accident and investigative body. The Bill provides for a transition from the current structure whereby the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is the designated investigative body until the establishment of the full-time permanent MAIU, similar to the Air Accident Investigation Unit and also the Railway Accident Investigation Unit.

The Bill also provides for a full regulatory regime to be put in place for the construction and operation of offshore service vessels and for the carriage of industrial personnel in the offshore sector.

It is very welcome that this is not just about investigating accidents; it is also about ensuring that accidents are prevented and that vessels are kept to the highest potential standards. This will provide the most robust assurance that vessels are safe to operate and that crews and the industrial personnel being transported will be protected. Such a regime will allow for the survey and certification of these vessels by the Marine Survey Office and for them to fly the Irish flag should they wish to do so. That will align Ireland with international practice, ensuring a level playing field in terms of inspection by port states. It will also fulfil Ireland's obligation as a party to the SOLAS Convention, as the Minister mentioned. I commend the Bill to the House.