I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 41, 45 and 49 together.
Maritime local authorities have accepted responsibility for protecting their respective coastlines against pollution from maritime incidents and for clean-up operations in the event of pollution taking place. The Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) of the Department of the Marine and its associated bodies, the Irish Marine Advisory Group and the Marine Pollution Response Team, assist local authorities in meeting their responsibilities in this regard. Each maritime local authority has a contingency plan to deal with emergencies at county level. In addition, IMES directs and co-ordinates resources in the event of a major oil spill or other pollution incident under its contingency plan.
During the recent incident involving the oil tanker Sea Empress at Milford Haven in Wales and the oil pollution incident on the Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and Cork coastlines, IMES provided monitoring including helicopter support and were on hand to offer technical advice as requested. IMES also advised the local authorities on the formulation of their compensation claims. Sea fisheries officers of the Department assisted with the monitoring of any effects on fisheries.
As Deputies are aware, the four local authorities concerned commenced clean-up operations of their respective coastlines immediately following the pollution incident and commissioned the Marine Institute to investigate whether the spillage at Milford Haven was the source of the pollutant. I wish to compliment the local authorities concerned. As already announced on Thursday last, 18 April, the results of the investigations show that crude oil from the Sea Empress is the pollutant in this case.
It is Government policy to pursue the "polluter pays" principle whereby polluters are held liable for any damage caused and for costs of clean-up operations. In line with this policy and on the basis of the results of the investigation, the four local authorities concerned are currently estimating their respective claims for clean-up costs and damages for submission to the insurers of the Sea Empress. I understand that Wexford County Council is co-ordinating a joint claim and that preliminary estimates indicate the final joint claim is expected to be in the region of £150,000.
Our procedures for supporting local authorities in this important matter will be kept under review. Serious issues on the management of such catastrophic incidents as that involving the Sea Empress, in particular in relation to the emergency services response as the incident unfolded, will no doubt arise in the official review of the incident in the UK and by the EU Commission. In view of the proximity of Milford Haven to our south-east coast we will examine closely the findings of these reports with a view to helping to ensure that threats to our coastline are minimised. The availability and capability of towing facilities in Ireland to respond to a similar incident in our waters will be reviewed in this context. I intend to review, as necessary, with the UK authorities at the highest level the lessons to be learned, in the light of the relevant report, from the Sea Empress incident.