I am glad to inform the Deputy that on 11 October 1994 the Government approved the ratification by Ireland of the MARPOL Convention 73/78. The formalities for ratification of the Convention are now being completed. Three months following deposit of the instrument of ratification with the International Maritime Organisation in London the Convention will come into force in Ireland.
Ireland will be adopting the obligatory Annexes I and II and the optional Annex V of the Convention. These annexes relate to the control of pollution by oil, oily mixtures, noxious liquid substances carried in bulk and garbage. The optional Annex V is being adopted at this stage because of the deleterious effect which garbage — in particular persistent plastics — has on marine life and the blight which shipgenerated garbage can have on beaches.
The adoption of Annex V should have a positive influence on the aesthetic quality of our beaches which is one of the criteria in the award of the blue flag.