I thank Senator Cosgrave for his intervention. It is something of which I am very much aware and it is important that it has been raised.
I will set out the events sequentially. At 8.30 a.m. on 28 May 1993 the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre of the Irish marine emergency service was notified that a number of birds, coated with oil, had been washed up on the beach at Clogherhead, County Louth.
In accordance with established procedure the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre immediately alerted the Clogherhead coast and cliff rescue service, the Clogherhead harbour master, Clogherhead Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the oil pollution officer of Louth County Council and the Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works.
Following contact with the Department, the Air Corps scrambled a Cessna aircraft in an effort to locate the source of the oil. A radio navigation warning was broadcast every four hours advising shipping in the area of the incident and requesting information on any oil sightings. Air traffic control at Dublin Airport was also asked to seek information from aircraft overflying the area. The coastguard at Belfast, Holyhead and the Isle of Man were notified and the UK marine pollution control unit carried out an aerial surveillance of the area. I thank the UK and Irish bodies involved in the overall operation.
Despite the extensive efforts, no trace of any oil was found at sea. An examination was undertaken of the wind speed and direction along with the tides and currents in the area at the time of the find. On the basis of that examination and the fact that no oil slick was spotted near the shore, it is considered the likely source of the oil was in the area between County Down and the Isle of Man. It is assumed the incident was caused by an accidental or deliberate discharge of oil by a passing ship.
I understand Louth County Council took samples for analysis, the results of which are awaited. That would conform to the Senator's request for an ongoing investigation. As soon as the samples have been analysed and the results confirmed positively or negatively I will let the Senator and any other person interested have the information.
Illegal washing of tanks is an acknowledged problem for coastal states with busy shipping lanes. Air surveillance of the Irish Sea is carried out by the UK and Irish authorities using sophisticated oil detection equipment. A Memorandum of Understanding with the UK authorities to formalise joint co-operation and assistance in the event of marine emergencies involving search and rescue and pollution control is being finalised at present.
The MARPOL Convention which regulates the discharge of ships' waste at sea imposes obligations on port authorities to provide adequate facilities for the reception of such waste at ports. The Senator will be aware MARPOL is the acronym for the convention on marine pollution.
The culprit in this case would appear to have been a vessel in transit and not one calling to an Irish port. I can, however, advise the House that Ireland hopes to ratify the MARPOL Convention very shortly and to implement the MARPOL Regulations which are designed to prevent pollution of the sea by oil, noxious liquid substances and garbage. In anticipation of the coming into effect of MARPOL we have examined the adequacy of reception facilities in the commercial ports, fishery harbour centres and a number of other important ports. By and large these facilities are satisfactory. Upgrading, where necessary, will be undertaken by the port authorities.
The Braer incident which took place off the Scottish coast on 25 January 1993 has drawn international attention to the need for the identification of environmentally sensitive areas within the European Community. The matter is included in a resolution outlining priority measures for a Community action programme on maritime safety and pollution prevention. The resolution is due for adoption at the Transport Council of Ministers on Tuesday next, 8 June. The Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Gerry O'Sullivan, will attend that meeting. He will stress the need for action to implement the agreed measures quickly and effectively. We are laying particular emphasis on the need to protect the ecologically sensitive Irish coastline from potentially serious marine accidents through the establishment of exclusion or avoidance zones and ship reporting zones. We intend to put forward our proposals shortly to the European Commission and the IMO for endorsement.
On the home front I have identified a need for more immediate and less formalised contact between the Irish Naval Service and the Department of the Marine. This is being examined urgently. In the meantime criteria for the selection of Community areas of high ecological importance are being developed by the Commission and we are actively participating in this process which I hope will be completed shortly.
Incidents such as this underline the importance of action now to ensure the risk of pollution incidents is minimised. The putting in place of comprehensive precautionary measures such as the exclusion zones and ship reporting measures is, therefore, my main priority.
My information is the French on the north-western part of their coast have a 37-mile exclusion zone. This is not something new, it already exists. There is no reason why we should not have a 20-mile exclusion zone at minimum. These people should be kept well away from our coasts. Ireland is the most vulnerable country in the EC in this regard.
It is one of my great fears as Minister for the Marine that we may have to face a marine pollution disaster. It is a recurring nightmare and we must ensure within our competence that such a disaster does not happen. It is preventable if we take action now and not when it is too late.
I am grateful to the Senator for raising the matter and I appreciate his concern. I will communicate to him the outcome of any investigations into the matter.
The Seanad adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 9 June 1993.
