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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 May 1956

Vol. 46 No. 2

Oil Pollution of the Sea Bill, 1956—Committee and Final Stages.

Sections 1 to 19, inclusive, put and agreed to.
SECTION 20.
Question proposed: "That Section 20 stand part of the Bill."

On this section, may I repeat a question I addressed to the Parliamentary Secretary on the Second Reading? We have here reference to inspectors of ships. I asked him whether there are any powers under other legislation to prevent ships from discharging general rubbish in port. I drew the Parliamentary Secretary's attention to a flagrant abuse of that function in a foreign port which I saw recently. I should very much dislike our Irish ports to be polluted by general rubbish in the way in which that Greek port was polluted. It is not directly bearing on this Bill, but I would ask if these inspectors have rights under other legislation to prevent such general pollution of our ports.

That would be a matter for the harbour authorities to make by-laws to prevent pollution by the throwing of refuse into the ports.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider whether it might be well to have general legislation to cover that abuse? When there is an Act of Parliament condemning an abuse, it makes the harbour master's position very much stronger than if he has to depend on local bylaws. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to look into that matter, with a view, possibly, to introducing legislation along those lines.

They have power under the Harbours Act, 1946.

That is what I wanted to know.

Question put and agreed to.
Sections 21 to 27, inclusive, agreed to.
Schedule and Title agreed to.
Agreed to take remaining stages now.
Bill put through Committee, reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.
Ordered: That the Bill be sent to the Dáil.
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