Vol. 544 No. 4
125 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the practice on a number of trawlers at sea which discard all galley waste overboard; and the measures which will be implemented to ensure separation of waste of board and recycling of waste when boats return to port. [29196/01]
The requirements regarding the control of the discharge of garbage from ships are set out in the Sea Pollution (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships) Regulations, 1994. These regulations prohibit the dumping of certain materials entirely and sets out the arrangements for disposal of certain types of garbage, including food waste. They also oblige harbour authorities to provide facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage.
The European Parliament and Council of Ministers in November 2000 adopted a directive on port waste reception facilities for ship-generated waste. The purpose of the directive is to improve the availability and use of port reception facilities for such waste. It builds on existing international arrangements, principally MARPOL 73/78, the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships). Regulations to give effect to the directive will need to be introduced by December 2002. My Department, conscious of the difficulties caused by foot and mouth disease earlier this year and the importance of adequate arrangements for the control and disposal of food wastes, is in discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in this connection.
