Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 3

Written Answers. - Employment of Non-EU Seamen.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

217 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the planned replacement of thirty Irish seamen working for ECS Bell Line's by Filipino seamen; if he has satisfied himself with the new employees' conditions of work; if he intends introducing minimum standards of pay, working hours and employment conditions for non-EU nationals working on boats operating out of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2161/94]

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

221 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the planned employment of Filipino seamen by ECS Bell Lines operating between Ireland, Holland and France; if he has satisfied himself as to the safety standards on boats operated by the ECS line; if he intends introducing regulations regarding minimum qualifications for non-EU nationals working on vessels operating out of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2160/94]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 221 together.

All officers on Irish-flagged ships must hold Irish certificates of compentency or equivalent certificates issued by the UK and a number of former Commonwealth countries with which Ireland has reciprocal recognition arrangements.

Ratings or seamen of all nationalities may serve on Irish-flagged ships provided they are qualified seamen and hold watchrating certificates as laid down in the International Convention on Standards of Training. Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). I am aware that ECS have proposals to employ non-EU nationals as ratings on the company's Irish-flagged ships. The company will be obliged to ensure that non-EU nationals so employed meet the qualification requirements of the STCW Convention. In addition, conditions of seagoing employment must be such as to ensure compliance with the International Labour Organisation's Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention. Compliance with these standards are checked as part of the annual survey.

I am advised that the safety standards on the company's Irish-flagged ships which have been surveyed this year are satisfactory. Each of the vessels holds internationally recognised maritime safety certificates covering,inter alia, construction, stability, equipment to include life-saving applicances and radio installations, crew manning levels and certification.

ECS ships can also be subject to inspection by foreign states under the Paris Memorandum on Port State Control. Inspection ensures compliance with the standards laid down in all the relevant international maritime conventions.

The EU has recently agreed a Directive on the Minimum Level of Training for Seafarers. The purpose is to improve the application and enforcement of international training standards for all seafarers, irrespective of nationality, on board EU-registered ships or foreign ships entering Union ports, as well as to improve communication among multilanguage crews. Ireland is already in full compliance with the terms of the directive which comes into force at the end of 1995.