Vol. 526 No. 5
18 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when he will publish the heads of a Bill to establish a statutory regime to regulate safety in adventure centres, which he said in his statement of 4 May 2000 were expected by the end of May 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26933/00]
The heads of the Adventure Activities Standards Authority Bill, 2000 were approved by Government on 30 May 2000. Based on those heads, a draft Bill has now been prepared for publication. It is planned to submit the draft Bill to Government shortly and to publish the Bill before Christmas.
The draft Bill follows the principal recommendations of an interdepartmental working group established to examine adventure centres. It will provide a legislative framework to allow for the establishment of an independent adventure activities standards authority; mandatory registration of adventure centres and providers with the authority for specified activities; mandatory codes of safe operating practice for specified adventure activities; implementation of a regulatory scheme involving inspection of centres and providers for adherence to safety codes and powers for the authority to order cessation of the provision of any or all adventure activities in the case of failure to observe safety codes.
I hope the Oireachtas will commence consideration of the Bill early in the new year.
Does the Minister anticipate that he will be able to issue the necessary regulations and have them in place for the main tourism season?
I hope we will be able to conclude the legislation and implement the regulations before the summer.
