Limerick West): The Minister of State who has just concluded on the previous Bill was, to a large extent, as Minister for the Marine, responsible for the initiation of this Bill. I would like to pay tribute to him for his foresight in that regard. The Bill sets out to address the necessity in a maritime nation for a coherent and co-ordinated Government policy for the development of marine resources. The promotion, therefore, of the Marine Institute Bill marks another decisive step in putting in place the structures that were envisaged in a policy document entitled “Roinn na Mara” which was published in 1985.
The House will be aware that there are many problems currently affecting the positive and progressive development of our marine economy. These problems can be attributed to the absence of a clearly defined policy. This is accompanied by a great fragmentation of administrative structures. The purpose of the Bill is to get the structures right so that the latent marine potential of the State can be fully realised in everyone's interests.
The urgent necessity for the right policies was acknowledged very forcefully by the last administration. That administration attempted to solve a number of the problems in the area through the establishment of Roinn na Mara, a new department who have brought together all the different aspects of marine development. In the past three years Roinn na Mara have improved the administration of the marine sector and have sought to tackle some of the problems indicated in the seminal document "Roinn na Mara" to which I have referred. These included, for example, wasteful utilisation of Government financial and human resources and demarcation overlaps in policy between Government Departments and agencies operating both within and outside the marine field. That document referred too, to the absence of forward development planning relating to existing established marine resources and those with development potential. It included references to the lack of cohesion in approach to international maritime developments which impinge on national interests. It also referred to the inadequate investment in research and development. That is by way of background. I would now like to focus on the issue indicated in the Bill before this House.
We may ask ourselves why we need a marine institute. Indeed, it is a logical question to ask. The oceans are the last frontier, the least known part of our planet. They cover 70 per cent of its surface area and have been used by man as far back as we can remember to reach other continents and to supply him with food and other resources. Yet, it is only recently that their multifarious role has been fully comprehended.
We cannot, however, exploit the tremendous resource potential of the oceans without knowledge of what is out there, without the capacity to measure these resources, having identified them, and without the capacity to develop the necessary related tools and instruments. We must at the same time ensure the protection of the environment in all its aspects. It is in providing this information that marine research plays a vital role.
The sea and seabed resources, and the technologies related to their exploitation, represent a new and important trend in economic and industrial development on a global scale. In future decades, the resources of the sea will account for an increasing share of the world economy. Control of such resources and the ability to explore and exploit them, will play a significant part in the economic growth and development of many nations. It also means that competition for the use of new resourcese will be intense.
In the case of Ireland, the marine area constitutes a major but underdeveloped natural resource and offers significant opportunities in terms of wealth and employment creation for a broad range of industries.
As an island nation every aspect of our daily lives is in some way influenced by the sea that surrounds us, whether it be the effect of the sea on our climate or the distance from mainland export markets. Yet, as a nation we do not perceive ourselves as a maritime people and, worse, the sea continues to be regarded as a barrier to development rather than a natural resource to be utilised and developed for the benefit of the nation.
Ireland's marine area is very large in comparison to that of other European nations. In fact, the Irish Continental Shelf is unusually wide by international standards. It covers an area many times the size of the national land territory. It is likely that this vast area of the Continental Shelf contains tremendous resources. In order to capitalize on our marine and fisheries resources, it is essential that we measure these resources, understand how they behave and devise the most effective exploitation methods. Only then can we systematically start to exploit these resources commercially.
The successful commercial development of all natural resources, whether they be marine or others, depends on a well co-ordinated, directed and supportive research and development effort. Thus, the growing worldwide investment in marine science and technology arises from an awareness that the oceans can be one of mankind's major future sources of new food, energy, mineral and chemical supplies.
Marine science and technology has a vital role to play in the understanding, identification, location and mapping of marine resources, with developing and supporting marine-related industries, and providing the fundamental information on which to base development strategies. The lack of some of the most elementary knowledge of our marine environment and resources base is crucial. The Marine Institute will fill this gap, providing the vehicle to promote the development of marine resources across a wide number of sectors — fisheries, aquaculture, non-living resources, marine engineering and electronics, etc.