For the information of Members, it is proposed to group amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, and amendments Nos. 6 and 7 for the purpose of the debate.
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages
I move amendment No. 1:
In page 24, line 12, after “in” to insert “civil or”.
this section was amended on Committee Stage to ensure accident investigation reports of the marine accident investigation unit, MAIU, are prohibited from being used in criminal proceedings. I wish to further amend this section to also prohibit their use in civil proceedings. It is a strict requirement of the EU directive that investigations of the MAIU must be independent of criminal investigations or other parallel investigations held to determine liability or apportion blame. This amendment makes this distinction clear in respect of the use of evidence. This amendment will also reduce the risk of a chilling effect by ensuring witnesses and those involved in marine accidents can provide information without fear of this information being used in litigation. It is also important to note this amendment would not preclude a coroner from referring to a report of the MAIU in a coroner's inquest as questions of liability, whether criminal or civil, are not part of the coronial process.
This amendment amends section 32 and inserts “civil or”, with regard to reports of the marine safety investigation unit in order that they shall not be admissible in civil proceedings. When the Minister of State was speaking to the amendment, I was glad to hear him stress the importance of the independence of the investigation. When the general scheme was published in 2022 and the Government had approved the drafting of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill to provide for, in full time, the establishment of the MAIU as the permanent body to replace the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB, the briefing document stated that the main focus of the Bill was to provide the MAIU with the necessary framework to ensure it can, in its organisation, legal structure and as decision-maker, operate independently of any party whose interest could conflict with the task entrusted to the unit. The general scheme also provided rule-making power for the Minister to make the necessary secondary legislation. That is a separate point, however.
Moving along to when the Bill was published and the various sections, Part 2 dealt with the setting-up of the marine investigation unit, marine accident and reporting was dealt with in Part 3, the dissolution of the previous MCIB was in Part 4, and the offshore service vehicles were then dealt with in Part 5. While we welcome the intent repeated again by the Minister of State, unfortunately, the Government ultimately has failed to produce legislation that is fit for purpose. Despite repeated warnings from multiple parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael declined to make the necessary changes because, time and again, they ignored the expert opinions and recommendations. This remains a source of deep disappointment to many and a serious blow to the families who have lost loved ones and expect and hope for higher a standard of care for people into the future, such as people who have campaigned for many years, like Michael Kingston, who lost his father in the Whiddy Island tragedy in 1979. We all accept tragedies can happen despite everyone's best efforts. The point, however, is to learn from them. Unfortunately, the Government has failed in this regard. Under its stewardship, Ireland has fallen below acceptable standards when it comes to marine safety.
We have also fallen behind when it comes to the regulation of offshore vehicles, which is dealt with in Part 5, especially with regard to wind energy. This is of particular interest and importance to the future development of offshore renewable energy projects, which the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach will no doubt be encouraging, particularly in the Shannon Estuary. Therefore, no one is disputing that we must change. It is not a question if Ireland's approach to marine safety needs to be modernised but rather how these changes are fit for purpose and in line with international best practice. As it stands, the Government's proposals are inadequate and incomplete.
The history of this type of legislation is that the State has been woeful at implementing the Cape Town Agreement. There are multiple examples to point to this. First, this legislation, as I said, has discounted expert opinions, such as those from Mr. Kingston, who is in the Public Gallery, Mr. Ciaran McCarthy and the Donegal coroner, about whom I am sure my colleague, Deputy Mac Lochlainn, will speak. During pre-legislative scrutiny, the transport committee took on many of their recommendations. Regrettably, however, this expert knowledge was not taken on board. According to the experts, this Bill fails to deal with basic things such as training, education about the importance of VHF radios and wearing life jackets. There is also no mandated update to the code of practice. It seems obvious to everyone except the Government that it should be accessible to those who are using it.
Similarly, the Government has failed to be transparent and accountable when it comes to this issue. The Lacey report, which suggested a national accident investigation officer, has not been published, nor has the Clinch report, despite the Oireachtas committee advocating for their full publication to assist legislators. We are still in the dark, and how is that right? The absence of this knowledge from the public domain has created a vacuum and the legislative process, which was dealt with in a rushed manner towards the end of last year, has been a mess. Pre-legislative scrutiny was completed a full year and a half before it progressed to Second Stage last October, when the election was hanging over us. It was then guillotined and rushed through on the eve of the election. Despite many of the flaws, the Government did not provide the Opposition with the adequate time to scrutinise the Bill and proper democratic processes were disregarded.
I have a number of questions for the Minister of State. It is important to reference Wind Energy Ireland. It has commented on the text of the Bill. With regard to section 8 in particular, which sets out the functions and responsibilities of the marine accident investigation unit, Wind Energy Ireland is querying whether some clarity should be given as to the division of responsibility between the unit and the Health and Safety Authority. It asks whether there is a risk that, in the case of an accident involving the crew of a vessel and construction personnel, perhaps working on an offshore wind turbine installation, there could be confusion as to which agency is involved. It, and we, need clarity in this regard. Is a different approach going to be taken if an accident on a vessel occurs when it is tied up, for example? If one agency should have primacy and would take the lead in investigations, which agency would it be?
We need to protect rescue services who are going out in defective vehicles. All the families say that. Lives will be saved, not only in the waters around Ireland but around the world if proper implementation is afforded. Will the Minister of State also confirm that, in accordance with the Lacey report, the envisaged independent marine unit will not have any Government officials on it? Is it the case that the panel, which will be interviewing for a new chief inspector, must be completely independent and that officials should not be involved? As far as I know, that was in the original Bill but it seems to have been omitted at this stage.
It has been a long, sorry journey to get to this point. It is such a pity this is a missed opportunity in many respects. The eminent maritime safety expert, Michael Kingston, has come before the Oireachtas committees, as well as other experts, and they have given their analysis and views. It appears that not much has been taken on board. In the case of Michael Kingston, as mentioned by my colleague, Deputy Daly, his father lost his life in the Whiddy Island disaster.
That has clearly motivated him to try to stop other families from enduring the same cruelty, unnecessary cruelty in many instances. It is about learning the lessons of tragedies and ensuring they are not repeated. It is about ensuring the necessary awareness and training is available for people who are sent out and put in harm's way to save lives.
I am visualising the movie "The Perfect Storm". Deputies might recall it is about fishermen and a terrible weather occurrence on the east coast of the United States. I remember how the search and rescue team was sent out. It was an incredible movie in how it conveyed the unbelievable danger people endure when they are sent out to save lives. This issue is huge. It could be argued that many people in Ireland have lost their lives unnecessarily in recent decades because lessons have not been learned. That is the importance of what we are dealing with.
I made a Second Stage speech on the Bill and identified a range of areas where changes were needed. None of that has been listened to. There will be an opportunity to do so. I appreciate the Minister of State is new to his role but I ask him to take on board what myself, Deputy Daly and other Deputies have said here tonight. The Bill will have to go before the Seanad and I ask the Minister of State to please listen and maybe make some changes in the Seanad to make this Bill work. Sadly, we cannot support this Bill as it is presented tonight. It is a missed opportunity. It is not what it should be. We hope that if we are listened to, we will be able to support the Bill when it comes before the Seanad and it will be a Bill we can embrace when that time comes.
I should point out the history. Neither of the reports from Róisín Lacey or Captain Clinch have been acted upon. They were brought in as experts to talk to the stakeholders and make recommendations, but those reports were not acted upon. Incredibly, the Clinch report has been withheld. It would have been crucial to us as legislators in contributing to this Bill and tabling amendments but it was withheld. The Oireachtas committee supported the call for it to be published but that did not happen. I ask the Minister of State to look at the Lacey report and ask why the Clinch report is not being published. Perhaps it could be published now, in advance of the Bill going to the Seanad.
As the Minister of State is aware, the intermingling of the Department of Transport over-reaching and not ensuring we had independent investigative procedures, led to the European Court of Justice ruling against us. That is why we are here tonight. The Cape Town Agreement is the international framework relating to the safety of fishing vessels. While much of it is applicable to some European directives, the State needs to embrace the agreement. I have repeatedly raised this issue in parliamentary questions, and repeatedly the Government has not embraced it. Why has it not done so? This is going to happen. It is an international agreement to which more and more states are signing up. Why is it not being embraced? Why is the spirit of the Cape Town Agreement not at the heart of this legislation? Why, after our State has been called out in the international scene, do we continue to make mistakes and not handle this properly?
I wish to deal with the whole issue of an accident and investigation office which would examine and encompass aviation, rail and marine. Everything would be under the one roof. It was one of the recommendations put forward by Róisín Lacey in her report. Why has the Government not gone down that road and considered that? Why was that recommendation ignored?
I have referred to the Captain Clinch report. I again request that the Minister of State ask why it is not being released. Why are we being denied access to that report which would assist us to do our job as legislators? My understanding is it is an eminent report and the recommendations are important.
I am the Sinn Féin spokesperson on fisheries and the marine. When a person loses their life in a fishing accident - a fisherman - it is very important that lessons are learned in order that another family does not have to endure loss. There was a recent tragic loss in Carlingford, County Louth, when Gearóid McMahon sadly lost his life. Is the MCIB investigating that matter? I do not know whether it is. I appreciate the Minister of State cannot answer that question tonight but I ask him to come back to me on it. Has the MCIB - the current body - investigated that death? My understanding is there have been 15 or 16 deaths among fishermen in the past 15 years. Has the MCIB investigated every single one of those deaths, whether they happened at a pier or harbour or at sea, or whether they were work-related? Has every single death been investigated? Are lessons being learned? I ask the Minister of State to provide clarification on that point, either now or after the debate.
First, I congratulate the Minister of State on his new brief. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to do so in the Dáil. I wish him the best. When he held a ministerial role previously, we worked together very closely and I hope we can again work closely together on issues going forward.
I have serious concerns with this Bill going forward. Lessons have not been learned. We need to go back before we go ahead. We need to talk about and look at areas where lessons have not been learned.
The Whiddy Island disaster is the most important lesson anyone in this country could have learned, with 50 people dying off the coast of Bantry on 8 January 1979. I have brought it up on numerous occasions. I welcome Michael Kingston to the Visitors Gallery. He has spearheaded the campaign on this and other marine tragedies through the years, and no better person to do so. I pleaded with the Government to at least have the decency and respect to give an apology to the families affected by the Whiddy Island disaster. I have spoken not only to Michael but also to other family members. A lady in Drimoleague - I will not mention names, though I do not think she would mind if I did - asked me recently why nothing was ever done and they never got justice for their families. This is something that hurts people. The Bill as it stands could leave us in a similar situation to that we have visited before.
I am surrounded by water and quite often bring up fishery issues in the Dáil because not many TDs want to speak about it, but there are fishing tragedies out there. There are fishermen who have lost their lives and a lot of mystery surrounds their losses. In speaking about the Bill, we need to concentrate on the past before we go forward. I ask the Minister of State to give some time and consideration to this. He might meet with the Bantry Whiddy Island group led by Michael to discuss the issues that need to be put to bed and resolved. The State needs to recognise that but it has not done so. It has refused to recognise this for the past 40 or 50 years. It is not good enough. It has hurt the relatives of innocent people who lost their lives, including a relation of mine who lost his life that night on Whiddy Island, as did Michael's father and many more.
I ask the Minister of State to look again at the Bill going forward and, while doing so, to work with us to at least bring about an apology from the State to the families of those who died in the Whiddy Island disaster, the 47 French and seven Irish individuals who lost their lives on that terrible night in Bantry. It is something the families have sought and pleaded for. They put their case as strongly as they could but they have been neglected and forgotten by the State. The Minister of State might be the person to make that change. We have a new Government. I pleaded with the former and present taoisigh to make that apology but it has not been made. I again ask the Minister of State to sit down with us going forward to, at least, bring about that apology. It will not bring much solace to the people who lost their loved ones but it would certainly be a move in the right direction. They deserve that and their families deserve that, regardless of whether they are French or Irish. I ask the Minister to consider this going forward.
Many issues were raised and many reports were mentioned. Ireland intends to ratify the Cape Town agreement. However, important matters relating to the implementation of the agreement have been raised at the IMO. The Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments developed interim guidelines to assist in the implementation of that agreement, which was adopted in December 2024. The formal resolution is awaited and Ireland is fully engaged with the process at the IMO. We have a higher standard than what is being set out in the Cape Town agreement.
The recommendations and observations of the Clinch report have been published and have been or are being implemented. This Bill is put in place to enhance the safety regime and bring accident investigation into line with best international practice. It is also there to regulate offshore service vehicles.
The Lacey report was not a report on marine accident investigation. It was a report of a previous government looking at the possibility of setting up a multi-modal accident investigation unit. This Bill only concerns marine accidents. There is nothing precluding us from introducing a multi-modal approach in the future but we need this Bill now to improve safety.
There is no confusion about the agencies and what they will investigate. The agency will operate on a statutory remit. At present, all work on investigations work within their statutory remit with no issues - gardaí, Marine Survey offices, etc. If a vehicle is tied up, there is still no difference. It is investigated.
I want to revisit the Clinch report. My clear understanding is that this report has not been published and is not available. If it has been published in full, perhaps it could be emailed to the Deputies who are here at the moment - myself and Deputies Pa Daly and Michael Collins - but I am not aware of it being published. Regarding excerpts, we are talking about the report. The Oireachtas committee, which was an all-party committee, called for this report to be released because it was crucial to us as legislators in terms of making sure that this Bill was fit for purpose and it has been withheld. I am seeking clarification on that matter. Has the report been published in its entirety? If so, where can we find it? Will it be emailed to us?
The Lacey report is very relevant because Government has chosen to not take that recommendation and to go with this model. We will bring forward amendments in the Seanad and I hope the Minister of State will engage with us on the matter.
I also want to follow up on something Deputy Michael Collins said about Michael Kingston. I ask the Minister of State to meet Mr. Kingston as soon as possible to discuss not only this matter, which will be before the Seanad soon, but also his representation with honour at an international level based on his own tragedy. As he has gone on to have a significant impact internationally, this country should be proud of him and we should be working with in partnership. We should not be threatened by anybody who calls out practices that need to change.
I have one further question about the interview process for the chief inspector. It seems that this recruitment process has already been completed before the Bill has been passed. Why has it already taken place? Is the Minister of State fully satisfied that the interview panel was completely independent as was recommended previously?
In his reply, the Minister of State did not refer to the Whiddy Island disaster in any way, shape or form. I agree fully with Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I ask the Minister of State to consider meeting Michael Kingston, who is in the Public Gallery, at his earliest convenience to discuss the work he has been doing down through the years regarding Whiddy Island and other merchant shipping investigations. His expertise is renowned throughout the world. The families involved in the Whiddy Island disaster deserve someone to sit around the table and talk to them and Michael Kingston and others are best placed to do that. The Minister of State might give us an answer here today.
What I said was that the report has not been published in full but the recommendations and observations have been published. Recruitment is at clearance stage but no appointments have been made and will not be made until this Bill is enacted. Recruitment has gone through the Public Appointments Service process. I am new to this position. I have no problem meeting people and my officials will come back to the Deputies about that. That is part of what I will do.
Amendment put and declared carried.
Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together.
I move amendment No. 2:
In page 47, line 10, to delete “1994” and substitute “2000”.
Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are technical textual amendments for defining the high-speed craft code of 2000. This section deals with consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the new requirements for offshore service vessels. The amendments proposed are technical amendments to correct typographical errors in the definition of the high-speed craft code of 2000.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 3:
In page 47, line 11, after “MSC.97(73),” to insert “and any amendments made to it”.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 4:
In page 47, line 12, to delete “on 28 April 2022”.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 5:
In page 47, line 13, to delete “28th” and substitute “28”.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 are related and may discussed together by agreement.
I move amendment No. 6:
In page 49, line 19, to delete “107th session” and substitute “110th session”.
Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 will allow for the updating of the definition of the Maritime Labour Convention to take into account amendments adopted in 2022 that came into force in December 2024. This section deals with consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the new requirements for offshore service vessels. The proposed amendments update the definition of the Maritime Labour Convention to take into account amendments adopted in 2022 that came into force in 2024. This will allow for regulation to be made to give effect to the 2022 amendments.
I welcome this legislation, including amendments Nos. 6 and 7, because it is long overdue. It relates to many families going back to the Whiddy Island disaster in Bantry Bay all those years ago. I came across a case in Tipperary about which I have spoken previously. I have raised it with several Ministers. It was bizarre that we had a Marine Casualty Investigation Board populated by people with no seagoing experience. One case I dealt with involved two young men losing their lives off Heilbhic Head some years ago.
I first brought up the issue in the Chamber in 2017. This legislation is badly wanting, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I know that Michael Kingston, a maritime lawyer, engaged with the committee. I pay tribute to former Deputy Joe Carey, who was the chair of the committee, and I wish him well with his health. He was very understanding and engaging at the committee. There was significant resistance to the changes that are necessary. I do not know if this amended Bill will suffice, but it gives some hope to the many families all over the country who were left with no answers.
As I said, former members of the MCIB are protected in this Bill when they should not have been on the board. We must have full transparency and accountability. A board is there to do a job and the vast majority of boards do. The fact that some members had no seagoing experience was a complete misfit. I am terrified of water because I nearly drowned when I was a buachaill óg, but I think anyone on the MCIB should have seagoing experience. That is a basic prerequisite. Board members in other jurisdictions have that experience. That is especially the case across the pond.
As I said, families are still waiting. The O'Brien and Esmonde families in Tipperary are still waiting for answers. They lost sons and brothers in a cavalier fashion. In fairness to former Deputy Shane Ross, he visited the family with me when he was Minister for Transport. Others have been waiting for much longer. This was 11, 12 or 13 years ago. There were no proper answers or investigations. We must have this legislation but it must be fit for purpose. If it is not, it is not worth the paper it is written on. There are accidents and tragedies, and even deliberate cases where a boat is capsized by a bow wave, which happened in the case to which I am referring. There was no proper investigation. There was nothing. No evidence was secured and saved, as would happen in any crime scene. If there is a fatality as the result of an accident on a road, the road is rightly closed off. The technical bureau is brought in and evidence is secured and stored. In the case in question, even the engine of the boat disappeared from Dungarvan Garda station. It was in safekeeping in a 24-hour compound but it disappeared. This was a bizarre incident. I will talk to the Minister of State about it another time. I hope that this legislation will bring some solace to the families of those two young men who went out on a rib for a day's fishing off Heilbhic Head. They went safely, but a bow wave from a big vessel turned them upside down. A whale watcher, who was 600 yards away, could hear them screaming for help. They were left in the water to drown.
I am grateful for the work on this Bill and I thank the Minister of State for finishing it. Anne-Marie O'Brien and her dad have been up here several times. The lives of those they lost cannot be brought back, but they want a situation whereby if fatalities occur, proper, meaningful, well-resourced and qualified personnel will carry out investigations so other families will not have to go through what the O'Brien family has gone through for over a decade. I salute Ms O'Brien's tenacity and the way in which she has done all the research and fought for justice.
Meetings with the Garda are still awaited. People who were on the sea and affected by the same bow wave came forward a year later. They volunteered to come forward to give evidence but the Garda never took that evidence. That is unacceptable. We need proper, robust legislation, and it will be a big pity if this legislation is not up to scratch. There are many other affected families and there will be more. There obviously will be more accidents as the result of weather and everything else. The incident I am talking about was no accident. I hope the Bill will bring some solace.
I thank Deputy McGrath for his contribution. I will meet him to discuss the issue he has raised. He can bring it to my attention after the debate.
Will I give my closing remarks now?
I think so.
Is everybody happy? I thank all Deputies for their contributions this evening. I know their hearts are in the right place. I thank the House for facilitating Report and Final Stages today.
The important thing is that this Bill is to enhance the safety regime and bring accident investigation in line with international best practice and standards. We also need to regulate offshore service vessels because they are required if we are to take full advantage of offshore wind energy.
We have made progress towards achieving two important policy objectives with this Bill. As I said, this Bill is about enhancing our maritime safety regime and marine accident investigation. It also provides for the necessary regulation-making power to cater for the vessels being used in the offshore service sector and the carriage of industrial personnel on those vessels.
I thank the MCIB, its board, investigators and staff members for their ongoing work. The new unit will build on the important contribution they have made. I again thank Deputies for their contributions. I look forward to the Bill being referred to the Seanad for its next Stages.
The Ceann Comhairle might formally put amendments Nos. 6 and 7.
Amendments Nos. 6 and 7.
She might put those amendments individually.
That probably should have happened before the final remarks. I apologise to the Minister of State and Deputies.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 7:
In page 49, line 20, to delete “5 June 2018” and substitute “6 June 2022”.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as amended, received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
I welcome the group in the Gallery. I extend a warm welcome to Oswaldo Bentancort, president of Cabildo of Lanzarote, and his delegation from Lanzarote, an island with which the Irish people have a long-lasting friendship. The delegation is led by former Senator Catherine Noone, who is also in the Gallery. They are all welcome.
Question put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 101; Níl, 55; Staon, 0.
Tá
- Aird, William.
- Ardagh, Catherine.
- Boland, Grace.
- Brabazon, Tom.
- Brennan, Brian.
- Brennan, Shay.
- Brophy, Colm.
- Browne, James.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Butterly, Paula.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Malcolm.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Michael.
- Callaghan, Catherine.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Canney, Seán.
- Carrigy, Micheál.
- Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Cleere, Peter 'Chap'.
- Clendennen, John.
- Collins, Michael.
- Collins, Niall.
- Connolly, John.
- Cooney, Joe.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Cummins, Jen.
- Cummins, John.
- Currie, Emer.
- Daly, Martin.
- Dempsey, Aisling.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Dolan, Albert.
- Dooley, Timmy.
- Farrelly, Aidan.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Fitzmaurice, Michael.
- Fleming, Seán.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Gannon, Gary.
- Geoghegan, James.
- Gibney, Sinéad.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Harkin, Marian.
- Hayes, Eoin.
- Healy-Rae, Danny.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Hearne, Rory.
- Heneghan, Barry.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Higgins, Emer.
- Keogh, Keira.
- Lahart, John.
- Lowry, Michael.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Maxwell, David.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McCarthy, Noel.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McCormack, Tony.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Séamus.
- McGreehan, Erin.
- McGuinness, John.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Moynihan, Shane.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Joe.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- O'Callaghan, Jim.
- O'Connell, Maeve.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donoghue, Richard.
- O'Flynn, Ken.
- O'Meara, Ryan.
- O'Shea, John Paul.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- Ó Muirí, Naoise.
- Quaide, Liam.
- Rice, Pádraig.
- Richmond, Neale.
- Roche, Peter.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smyth, Niamh.
- Timmins, Edward.
- Toole, Gillian.
- Troy, Robert.
- Ward, Barry.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Níl
- Ahern, Ciarán.
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Bennett, Cathy.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Brady, John.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Byrne, Joanna.
- Carthy, Matt.
- Clarke, Sorca.
- Connolly, Catherine.
- Conway-Walsh, Rose.
- Cronin, Réada.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Cullinane, David.
- Daly, Pa.
- Devine, Máire.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Paul.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Farrell, Mairéad.
- Gould, Thomas.
- Graves, Ann.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Kenny, Eoghan.
- Kenny, Martin.
- Kerrane, Claire.
- Lawless, Paul.
- Lawlor, George.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- McGettigan, Donna.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McGuinness, Conor D.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Mythen, Johnny.
- Nash, Ged.
- Newsome Drennan, Natasha.
- Ní Raghallaigh, Shónagh.
- Nolan, Carol.
- O'Donoghue, Robert.
- O'Hara, Louis.
- O'Reilly, Louise.
- O'Rourke, Darren.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
- Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- Ó Súilleabháin, Fionntán.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Sheehan, Conor.
- Smith, Duncan.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wall, Mark.
- Ward, Mark.
Staon
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pa Daly.
Question declared carried.