Vol. 514 No. 2
23 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to act on the recommendation of the report commissioned by his Department which recommended that the coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway should be designated as high risk marine environmental areas and an emergency towing vessel should be purchased for pollution protection in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3635/00]
On 18 January 2000 my predecessor, Deputy Woods, published the report of the Irish emergency towing vessel, ETV, study. The study made the following three recommendations. An ETV should be deployed in Ireland to empower the State to proactively protect its coast and all maritime activities in the Irish pollution responsibility zone, IPRZ, in accordance with the provisions of the intervention convention. Among its functions would be the conservation of ecologically sensitive areas, protection of amenities and marine economic activities, reduction of pollution costs and enhancement of search and rescue activities. The report stated that the most cost effective method of securing an ETV would be a dual function vessel having a secondary role in fisheries protection.
The marine safety information services should be extended to incorporate the functions of a vessel traffic management information service, VTMIS. This would provide coast guard staff with a traffic image of vessels, enhance SAR as vessels could become useful resources in the event of a marine incident and allow detection of and safety management service for vessels in the event of a breakdown or accident.
The coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway should be designated as a marine environmental high risk area and, working through the IMO, passing vessels that pose a potential threat because of their cargo or size should be required to stand off this coast by a specified minimum distance.
I will give particular attention to this report and its recommendations. The economic, human and environmental costs of a major oil pollution incident off our coasts are incalculable. If we can put in place an infrastructure to prevent such an occurrence, rather than do so after such an event, we should do so. Accordingly, Deputies can be assured that we will review this report speedily and comprehensively and urgently bring to Government our conclusions in the matter.
