Carál Ní Chuilín [SF], NI’s waterways minister, said the other day:
Waterways Ireland’s inspectorate is responsible for enforcing the Lough Erne by-laws, which include speeding. Jet skis and boats are asked to carry registration numbers, which are issued by Waterways Ireland. I know, because a report was given, that any complaints are very robustly followed up. I also acknowledge that, since the Lough Erne by-laws were introduced in 1978, the numbers of vessels and the popularity of Lough Erne have grown. I also know that Waterways Ireland is planning to amend the Lough Erne by-laws, and these changes include proposals to create no-wash areas and minimise the risk of high-speed collisions, particularly with some of the larger seagoing vessels.
I didn’t know there were seagoing vessels on the Erne, but apart from that the revised bye-laws sound like good news, especially with no-wash areas, and I presume that they will be introduced on the Shannon too.
The only question to be resolved is whether Waterways Ireland would be better using helicopter gunships or missile-carrying drones to enforce the zones.
Irish waterways history 