Seán Canney

I thank Deputy Geoghegan for raising a very important issue we need to get to grips with. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media pending the formal transfer of functions, following Government formation. There are currently no plans to introduce a tourist tax or visitor accommodation levy but the Minister’s understanding and his view is tha…

Tourism is the largest indigenous industry in Ireland and a major driver of regional growth and employment. Visitor accommodation capacity is a key infrastructure element underpinning the tourism offering, located, as it is, in every region and county. The visitor accommodation business provides significant employment, supporting livelihoods, families and sustainable local economies. The programme…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 24, line 12, after “in” to insert “civil or”. This section was amended on Committee Stage to ensure accident investigation reports of the marine accident investigation unit, MAIU, are prohibited from being used in criminal proceedings. I wish to further amend this section to also prohibit their use in civil proceedings. It is a strict requirement of the EU directi…

Many issues were raised and many reports were mentioned. Ireland intends to ratify the Cape Town Agreement. However, important matters relating to the implementation of the agreement have been raised at the IMO. The Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments developed interim guidelines to assist in the implementation of that agreement, which was adopted in December 2024. The formal resolu…

What I said was that the report has not been published in full but the recommendations and observations have been published. Recruitment is at clearance stage but no appointments have been made and will not be made until this Bill is enacted. Recruitment has gone through the Public Appointments Service process. I am new to this position. I have no problem meeting people and my officials will come …

I move amendment No. 2: In page 47, line 10, to delete “1994” and substitute “2000”. Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are technical textual amendments for defining the high-speed craft code of 2000. This section deals with consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the new requirements for offshore service vessels. The amendments proposed are technical amendme…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 47, line 11, after “MSC.97(73),” to insert “and any amendments made to it”.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 47, line 12, to delete “on 28 April 2022”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 47, line 13, to delete “28th” and substitute “28”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 49, line 19, to delete “107th session” and substitute “110th session”. Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 will allow for the updating of the definition of the Maritime Labour Convention to take into account amendments adopted in 2022 that came into force in December 2024. This section deals with consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the…

I thank Deputy McGrath for his contribution. I will meet him to discuss the issue he has raised. He can bring it to my attention after the debate. Will I give my closing remarks now?

Is everybody happy? I thank all Deputies for their contributions this evening. I know their hearts are in the right place. I thank the House for facilitating Report and Final Stages today. The important thing is that this Bill is to enhance the safety regime and bring accident investigation in line with international best practice and standards. We also need to regulate offshore service vessels b…

I move amendment No. 7: In page 49, line 20, to delete “5 June 2018” and substitute “6 June 2022”.

Road safety is a matter that affects all of us. Every citizen is entitled to feel safe on our roads. The Minister set out the key contributors to collisions and touched upon some of the measures introduced in recent years to help restore Ireland's long-term progress in the area of road safety. I will use the balance of my time to focus on some more specific interventions. On the national roads net…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials is involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory resp…

I assure the Deputy that I fully recognise that transport connectivity is hugely important for people who live, work and study in Ireland and it is key to revitalising our villages, towns and urban centres. We need to expand the public transport network and increase service levels as outlined in policies like Connecting Ireland and BusConnects. We aim to achieve more balanced regional development …