The purpose of the Bill is to enable Ireland to give effect to the 1989 International Convention on Salvage; to strengthen the law on the removal of wrecks which constitute a threat of harm to the marine environment or a hazard to navigation; to assign intervention powers to authorised officers in cases of vessels in distress; to extend the protection for wrecks of historical and archaeological or artistic importance and to provide for the regulation of burial at sea and to prescribe penalties for offences. Prior to consideration at Committee Stage, it should be noted for the record that Deputy Barrett, with the Minister, have submitted amendments for consideration.
