Ireland has ratified the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954. The purpose of that Convention is to reduce the risk of pollution of the sea by oil discharged from ships.
There are three other Conventions dealing with different aspects of pollution of the sea by oil. The International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969, enables a coastal State to intervene and take measures to protect its coastal and other related interests whenever a casualty, which threatened oil pollution, occurs. The other Conventions concerned are the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, and the International Convention of the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971. These latter Conventions are concerned with the determination of liability for oil pollution damage and the provision of adequate compensation in such cases. The preparation of the necessary legislation to enable this country to ratify these three Conventions is in hands.
In addition to the aforementioned Conventions on pollution of the sea by oil, a Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft was recently opened for signature at Oslo. As indicated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his reply today to a Parliamentary Question on that particular Convention, the question of ratifying it is being examined in my Department and the other Departments concerned.