andMr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has cognisance of the nationality of the ships that are dumping oil waste in St. George's Channel and other sea roads around the coast; and, if so, if he will make direct representations to the governments of the countries concerned to obviate this nuisance forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dumping of Oil Waste.
15.
I am not aware of the nationality of the ships which are responsible for oil pollution of our coasts but samples taken by officers of my Department from polluted beaches suggest that the oil comes from a considerable distance. Inspections have been made of records of the disposal of oil waste by ships arriving here but no contraventions of our Regulations or of the International Convention have been detected. If evidence of such contravention by any ship is obtained appropriate action will be taken either by way of proceedings in the Courts for an offence by an Irish ship anywhere or by any ship in territorial waters or by notification to the Flag State concerned in the case of Convention ships in prohibited zones.
Has the Minister no means of obtaining information as to the nationality of these ships?
There is no international policing system by which the detection of the origin of oil pollution can be obtained. The states which have signed the Convention order their ships to report on the disposal of oil, caused by the cleaning of tanks, to the member countries concerned, but out of some 46 countries who have oil tankers, only 13 subscribed to the Convention and they do not include a great number of countries with very large tanker freight; that is to say, in all those countries, there are ships which cause pollution but it indicates the absence of international agreement, that a small country like ours is at the mercy of a great number of countries' ships. Oil can destroy from 100 to 150 miles from the coast and we can do little about it.