asked the Minister for Transport the steps he proposes to take to curtail industrial and nuclear waste in Irish waters within the 200 mile limit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial and Nuclear Waste.
4.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a previous Dáil question on 16 April 1980—columns 1342—1343 Dáil Official Report— setting out the position in regard to dumping of waste in territorial and international waters off our coasts and the position under international conventions permitting such dumping.
I hope shortly to be in a position to introduce legislation for greater control of dumping at sea of wastes and other matter. Such control will be in accordance with two international conventions, namely the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft, 1972, known as the Oslo Convention, and the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972, known as the London Convention. These conventions prohibit the dumping of certain specified highly toxic substances and provide that the dumping of all other substances requires the permission or approval of the national authorities concerned.
The legislation to be introduced will apply to all vessels in Irish territorial waters and to Irish vessels anywhere in the world. Contracting states to the Oslo and London Conventions apply similar controls in regard to their own vessels and waters.