SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE debate -
Tuesday, 19 May 1998

Vol. 1 No. 2

Report of Select Committee.

Chairman

In accordance with Standing Order 79B I propose the following message be sent to the Clerk of the Dáil:

The Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has completed its consideration of the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1997, and has made amendments thereto and has amended the Title to read as follows:

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSPIRACY, AND PROTECTION OF PROPERTY ACT, 1875, THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1894, THE MERCANTILE MARINE ACT, 1955, THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1992, AND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS) ACT, 1997, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

Report agreed to.

Ordered to report to the Dáil accordingly.

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I thank Deputies for their contributions. I emphasised on Second Stage that the Bill was the first step in streamlining, modernising and further extending Irish maritime law to keep abreast with the latest international developments and thinking. It can be regarded, therefore, as a tidying up exercise. A more extensive overhaul and consolidation of merchant shipping legislation, including ship registration legislation, will, as I indicated on Second Stage, follow as soon as practicable. In the meantime I am particularly anxious to ensure the provisions of this Bill are enacted to enable concessions to the shipping sector introduced in the 1997 social welfare regulations covering PRSI returns and in this year's Finance Act to be implemented and to provide a legal basis for the borrowings of the Commissioners of Irish Lights. I will consider the points raised by Deputies before Report Stage.

Chairman

I thank the Minister for responding to the various points raised in such a forthright manner. It was appreciated.

The Select Committee adjourned at 3.35 p.m.