Vol. 524 No. 6
165 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 5 October 1999, the Fishing Vessel (Sea Angling) Regulations, 1999, which existed only in draft form, have yet been finalised; when the regulations will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23576/00]
Following on from the consultation process on the draft Fishing Vessel (Sea Angling) Regulations and legal advice received from the Attorney General's office on the Ministers powers to make regulations for the purpose of ensuring the safety of passengers on sea angling boats, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1992, has now been amended by section 44 of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000, the effect of which is to treat such boats as passenger boats.
I feel strongly that sea anglers being carried as passengers on board a boat for reward should have the same protection in law as passengers being carried for other purposes. My Department is now giving priority to finalising draft passenger boat regulations with a view to their introduction next year.
