Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 2

Written Answers. - Marine Pollution.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

36 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when it is expected that the promised emergency towing vessel will be acquired to help protect the marine environment from pollution; the proposed location of the vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16685/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey): On 23 May 2000 the Government agreed to accept in principle the findings of the emergency towing vessel study, which are: that an emergency towing vessel should be deployed to allow Ireland to proactively protect its coastal and marine resource and processes from the consequences of major oil pollution and vessel strandings; that the marine safety information services should be extended to incorporate the functions of a vessel traffic management information service as a means of monitoring vessel movements around the coast, and that in consultation with the International Maritime Organisation, the coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway be designated as marine environmental high risk areas and that passing vessels be required to maintain a specified minimum distance from the coast.

The Government also agreed that my Department will, in consultation with the Departments of Finance, Defence and the Environment and Local Government assess and identify the most cost effective means by which Ireland would acquire an emergency towing vessel capacity; propose, in the light of the above, other uses, if any, to which an ETV capacity might be applied; make proposals regarding the positioning of the ETV capacity, and propose the specification, costing, ownership, manning, operation and management, financing, etc. of such an ETV capacity, and report to me before end October 2000. This consultative group will begin its study on these terms of reference at an early date and I await their recommendations.