Hon House Chairperson, let me take this opportunity to thank all hon members who have participated in this very important debate on our three Bills. It has already been indicated that our chairperson is, indeed, leading this committee very well. Thank you very much, and thanks to all our hon members.
There are a few issues that have been raised that I thought were quite important for me to reflect on a bit, firstly from the side of committee members, particularly the hon members Manganye and Tsotetsi. A very important aspect of what we are dealng with in the environmental arena is the agenda on sustainable development as set by the ANC. All these Bills that are in front of us do, indeed, deal with that. I also include the two that are still coming. We would like to indicate to and assure this august House that this is the path that we are going to be travelling from now on, ensuring that there are development, growth and environmental integrity, all at the same time.
The hon member Rodgers and somebody else raised the issue of sea bed exploration. I would like to indicate that we are currently still developing a policy that will deal with that issue. It does not mean, however, that we do not have tools we can use to address these issue now. Together with our departments, my colleague in the Department of Mineral Resources, Minister Shabangu, and I have a very good working relationship, as does the public out there who work with us as NGOs, and so on. There is a need for us to really strengthen implementation of these Bills once they become Acts, and we undertake to do that.
An issue I should deal with quickly is that of shipping incidents. There is legislation that has been developed together with Treasury and Transport that deals with this issue of shipping incidents, and I think hon members can refer to that area.
The last issue I want to deal with is the very important words of praise and wonderful accolades given to the chairperson of the committee and to the entire committee. However, ...
... een lammetjie gaan sommer uit ... [... one little lamb went out on a limb ...]
... and he said something - I do not know where he gets it from! Let me just say, in the first instance, that when we leave this country with the Deputy Minister, we represent South Africa. There is never a single trip that is a study tour, like other hon members on my left undertake.