Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is somewhat of a contradiction there because, on the one hand, we are talking about wanting to abide by international best practice and the SOLAS Convention but, on the other, we have twice been told that it "may" not be practical to apply the convention. Are we applying the international best practice standards or are we not because we do not think it is practical to do so? I am very aware that the other parts of the SOLAS Convention deal with other categories of vessel but its chapter XV, which my amendment explicitly names, directly engages with and addresses the issues of exactly this category of service vessel. Chapter XV is relevant. The convention has updated its standards and chapter XV is a new chapter that was added to it to reflect the urgent need of ensuring proper safety and regulation of this category of service vessels.

With respect, the Minister of State's position is inconsistent with the fact that, when we spoke about the SOLAS Convention in previous legislation, we indicated that we would apply it. Here, the Minister of State is saying that we "may" apply it. The speaking notes that seem to be arriving from the Department are saying that it may or may not be practicable. That does not give reassurance or confidence to the public. This is not ancient history.Fifty people died in Cork due to negligence by companies, compounded by the negligence of the State in not ensuring there was proper application of safety standards. This is an immensely serious piece. I am not suggesting these are LNG tankers but the point is if we are dealing with one of the filthiest, most dangerous forms of fossil fuel on earth and are bringing it through Irish waters, there will be service vehicles and vessels related to it, which will engage with it, may repair such tankers, and may engage in all the various categories of activity. It is not too much to ask that they have to abide by safety standards given, and this is the direction of travel, sadly, that will affect all our futures on this planet, that the fossil fuel industry is profiteering like never before. In 2022, that industry went from approximately $1.5 trillion in profits to approximately $4 trillion in profits. It is making hundreds of billions of dollars. It can afford to reach and meet safety standards, even on the service vessels that are engaging with these tankers and this industry. If we want our renewable industries to have high standards, we should expect that its service vessels also have the highest of standards. That is very important because I do not want the public perception of renewable energy to be tainted if accidents occur in circumstances where they could have been avoided.

I am not reassured in respect of the applications. I have no doubt about the Minister of State's personal commitment regarding these regulations but the fact that reasons we might not are already being included and mentioned indicates that we need guarantees in the legislation. I urge him on this. He mentioned consistency in the style of the Bill. The consistency of this Bill in respect of previous merchant shipping legislation is as, or more, important than happening to use the same words of "may" and "shall" throughout the different sections of the Bill. As I said, the Bill should move from "may" to "shall" at many points, but when it comes to amendment No. 22 and the application of the directly relevant chapter of SOLAS, namely, chapter XV, the word has to be "shall" and it has to be a guarantee.

I will press these amendments. I may not press amendment No. 22 because this matter is too serious. I genuinely urge the Minister of State to go back, look for a standard, and say we need a very good reason for not wanting to apply safety standards in this context. The public will want to hear some very good reasons we choose not to apply the relevant international safety standards. That is one we need to come back to.