Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has published his priorities for 2014 with a number of marine targets on his list. Varadkar wants to transfer of some ports to local authority control, and in changes to the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill, there are proposals to introduce a level of boat registration for leisure craft. 

After a busy year for the Coasty guard in 2013, the Minister has also said he wants to develop and implement a 'Safety at Sea' strategy to reduce the number of marine fatalities and casualties.

"This year my focus is on developing new projects across all three areas of Transport, Tourism & Sport, while consolidating progress already made. Priorities include starting work on the Gort-Tuam motorway, targets to increase the use of public transport, reducing road fatalities, and moving Luas Cross City in Dublin to full construction stage.

"In tourism, we will build on The Gathering and focus on increasing visitor numbers to Ireland by 4%, and tourism revenue by 8%. There will be a strong focus on sports tourism and outdoor tourism with the Giro d'Italia, Croke Park Classic and the Wild Atlantic Way. I will also publish new tourism and aviation policies.

"The foundations will be laid for our bid for the Rugby World Cup. Work will start on the National Indoor Arena at the National Sports Campus in Dublin, and we will publish a new Masterplan for Sport. Other key projects include finalising the merger of Shannon Airport with Shannon Development, and the NRA with the RPA. Most importantly, there will be a renewed focus on road safety, and we will also start testing new roadside drug testing equipment."

Priorities for 2014

Contribute fully to the Government's efforts to reduce the deficit, generate economic growth and increase employment;
Publish new Tourism and Aviation policies and begin work on a Masterplan for Sport;
Publish/Enact the following legislation:
Vehicle Immobilisation (Clamping) Bill,
State Airports (Shannon) Bill,
Roads Bill (NRA/RPA merger),
Sport Ireland Bill,
Harbours Amendment Bill (transfer of ports to local authority control),
Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill.
Lay the foundations for a bid for the Rugby World Cup;
Develop and implement a 'Safety at Sea' strategy to reduce the number of marine fatalities and casualties;
Renew focus on Road Safety to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries in 2014 including the enactment of the Road Traffic Bill and the introduction of equipment to enable roadside testing for drivers under the influence of drugs;
Increase the number of overseas visits to Ireland by 4% and revenue by 8%;
Commence works on the Luas Cross City Project and ensure that disruption in the City is well handled and minimised in so far as possible;
Construction to begin on Gort-Tuam Motorway and progress the next bundle of PPPs to tender (Wexford);
Work with NTA, CIE, Luas and other transport operators to increase the number of people using public transport by 2% ie 5 million passenger journeys;
Provide support for a number of flagship Greenways;
Review the National Cycle Policy Framework;
Develop and promote the Wild Atlantic Way at home and abroad;
Make new allocations for facilities and equipment under the Sports Capital Programme;
Develop facilities at the National Sports Campus including the commencement of work on the National Indoor Arena;
Finalise the implementation of the new Rural Transport Programme with the establishment of 18 Transport Coordination Units co-located with local authorities;
Commence the Taxi Regulation Act in conjunction with adoption of implementing regulations by NTA;
Implement the recommendations of the Speed Limits Review;
Launch an online facility for Road Haulage Operator Licence applications;
Develop a road charging scheme for HGVs;
Publish a Roadmap for the transition of transport to a low-carbon future and a Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport ensuring that priorities for future capital investment are evidence-based;
Provide City Bikes in Cork, Limerick and Galway;
Extend the LEAP card to Cork and Galway;
Map the future development of Rosslare Port.

#boatregistration – Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD has announced the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013.

The Bill is one of the Minister's legislative priorities and is part of an overall objective to update and enhance the national maritime legislative code, and ensure the safety of maritime transport services. 

The importance of ship registration is that it confers Irish nationality on ships, allowing them to fly the Irish flag and register ownership. The new Bill will provide a basis for the introduction of an updated and modernised ship registration system in Ireland.

Among the new categories of vessels for which the Bill proposes registration are fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and small angling boats.

The proposed extension of a registration requirement to jet skis takes account of the increase in the numbers of such craft in recent times, the risks that can be involved in the operation of such craft and, in particular, responds to a recommendation made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board following a number of marine casualty incidents involving jet skis in recent years.

The Bill is the result of a detailed review of the existing registration regime, which dates from 1955, and involved an extensive public consultation process and meetings with interested stakeholders. It has been prepared against a background of international growth in maritime trade, an increase in the use of pleasure craft and an increasing emphasis on safety, security and environmental issues both at EU and international level.

"This Bill will bring the ship registration system in Ireland up to date. It will replace the existing arrangements that have been in place since 1955 and allow us to introduce a new, centralised, electronic Irish Register of Ships. My aim is to provide a ship registration system which underpins a high standard for ships on the Irish flag and provides a more accessible registration system for ship owners," Minister Varadkar said.

The Bill sets out a new registration process for vessels. Most ships operating domestically in Irish waters will be registered on this new Register.

The current arrangements for the registration of ships will continue until such time as the new Register is in place and the relevant provisions of the Bill and subsequent regulations are commenced.

Currently in general terms, registration applies to ships of more than 15 net tons, and fishing boats of 15 metres or more, wholly owned by Irish citizens. Certain exemptions apply, including ships owned by Irish citizens not ordinarily resident in the State.

The current legislation is the Mercantile Marine Act 1955, as amended by the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1998 and the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006.

Some key points of the Bill are as follows:

A new Irish Register of Ships will be created consisting of different Parts for the registration of different types of ships and for different registration purposes, e.g. a new system of visitor registration is proposed.
The different Parts of the Register (for the different ship categories) can be established if necessary at different times on a phased basis. The specific registration requirements for different types of ships will be set out in regulations which would be made under the Bill following enactment.
Mandatory ship registration will be extended to additional ship categories including fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and some small angling boats. In general, subject to some exemptions, all ships operating domestically will be required to be on the Register or to have a current valid registration conferring nationality from another country. Other than the small vessels mentioned, registration of all leisure craft less than 24 metres is not proposed.
A system of visitor registration is proposed for recreational craft 24 metres in load line length and greater, personal watercraft (jet skis) and small fast powered craft, where such craft are not registered in another country and wish to operate in Irish waters for short periods not exceeding three months. This will be a simplified form of registration and for a nominal fee, so as not to impact negatively on tourism.
The proposed extension of a registration requirement to jet skis takes account of the increase in the numbers of such craft in recent times, the risks that can be involved in the operation of such craft and, in particular, responds to a recommendation made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board following a number of marine casualty incidents involving jet skis in recent years.
Both ship registration renewal and a facility to refuse ship registration or remove ships from the Register are being introduced, to improve the quality, integrity and accuracy of the Ship Register. A ship registration will have to be renewed up to five years after initial registration and at intervals of up to ten years thereafter.
Under the Bill, Irish ships that are registered under the current regime will be transferred free of charge to an appropriate Part of the new Register for an initial period of up to five years and, subject to compliance with the requirements of the Bill, will then become eligible for consideration for renewal of their registration.

Improvements to enforcement provisions include:

increases in penalty levels;
a power of detention given to surveyors for ship registration related offences;
the introduction of a system of fixed payments (€150) for certain offences involving personal watercraft, small fast powered craft and smaller angling ships; and
the designation of a range of State personnel as authorised persons for enforcement purposes.

The next stage following publication of the Bill is its consideration by the Oireachtas, which will take place in 2014.