Vol. 1 No. 2
In accordance with Standing Order 85, the following message shall be sent to the Dáil:
The Select Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has completed its consideration of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2002 [Seanad] and has made amendments thereto.
I thank the Minister of State, his officials and the members of the committee for attending today's session.
I thank the Opposition spokespersons for their interest, amendments and their detailed analysis and for sticking with the Bill. As Deputies pointed out, parts were added to it as we went along which made it more complicated. An in-depth analysis of the legislation has been carried out and I hope we will have good legislation on the Statute Book quickly. I thank the Chairman, members of the committee and its officials for their co-operation, support and for helping to get the legislation through the committee. I also thank Mr. Tobin, my official, who kept me fully briefed and did not allow me to give too much away to the spokespersons opposite.
I thank you, Chairman, for chairing the meeting so efficiently. I thank the Minister of State for giving us a second bite of the cherry in this regard. I ask that the next legislation from the Department does not come in dribs and drabs and have amendments to amendments. Having said that, I thank the Minister of State on the typically courteous way he accepted many of our amendments.
I thank the Minister of State for giving us a bit more time to consider his amendments, which were like a Bill, as well as the legislation which was very helpful to me. It was encouraging to confirm that the industry and people working in it seemed to strongly support this Bill and the principles behind it. It is a welcome development that a Minister is taking political decision-making out of what should not be a political function. There are other areas where we could look at doing something similar, not within this portfolio perhaps but in others. It is welcome legislation and I look forward to Report Stage.
I remind members that we have to deal with the digital hub legislation next week, on which we had a briefing today. The time has not been arranged yet but we have a lot of extra work again next week.
