Vol. 438 No. 4
157 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only marine engineers whose certificates are pre 28 April 1994 are valid on Canadian registered vessels; if he will make representations, either directly or through the European Union, to ensure that Irish certified marine engineers will in future be acceptable for work in Canada regardless of the date of issue of their certificates.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure that Irish certified marine engineers continue to be accepted for work on Canadian registered vessels.
At present, any person who wishes to work on a Canadian registered vessel must be a Canadian citizen, or a landed immigrant in Canada, and hold a Canadian marine engineer certificate. Holders of Irish and certain other foreign marine engineer certificates may currently have their original certificates exchanged for Canadian certificates following a five day marine emergency duties training course in Canada.
Inquiries made of the Canadian authorities, through diplomatic channels, confirm that the introduction of an additional examination requirement in such cases is being proposed. The Department has requested formal clarification of the nature, extent and time-frame of the proposed changes in order to assess their implications for Irish certified marine engineers with a view to addressing the concerns raised by the Deputy.
