In December last I signed three sets of regulations which fully implement, in Irish law, European Council Directive 97/70/EC setting up a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over. The relevant statutory instruments are entitled the European Communities (Fishing Vessel Safety) Regulations, 1998, the Fishing Vessel (Safety Provisions) Regulations, 1998 and the Fishing Vessel (Radio Installations) Regulations, 1998. All these regulations came into force on 1 January 1999, as required under the Council directive.