Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
47 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the plans he has to ensure all ports and harbours have reception facilities for waste derived from port and marine vessel activities as required under international agreements. [12297/04]
View answerThe International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the protocol of 1978, also known as MARPOL 73/78, contains regulations covering the various sources of ship-generated pollution in its six annexes.
Annex V contains regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships, and includes a requirement to provide reception facilities. Legislation was introduced in 1994 to give effect to Annex V in Ireland. This includes a provision for reporting to the International Maritime Organisation any cases where the facilities provided are alleged to be inadequate.
The EU built on this with the introduction of Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities for ship generated waste and cargo residues. I introduced regulations in March 2003 to give effect to the directive in Irish law.
The regulations require, among other things, the development and implementation of an appropriate waste reception and handling plan for each port. Where required for reasons of efficiency, the plan can be developed in a regional context.
The Department is in the process of examining plans which have been prepared in respect of several ports and will submit to the European Commission a status report concerning the implementation of the directive every three years. The first report is due in December 2005.
