A marine awards committee under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport provides for the granting of Marine Gallantry or Meritorious Service Awards. Details can be found on the Department's web site at http://www.dttas.ie/viewitem.asp?id=13339&lang=ENG&loc=2073. It is open to any individual, agency, organisation or service to make submissions and recommendations for marine awards.
A Marine Gallantry award may be considered in respect of any person undertaking, or assisting in, a marine emergency incident:
- within the State and its emergency response responsibility zones;
- to or on an Irish vessel anywhere in the world;
- by a declared Coast Guard resource anywhere in the world; and
- any Irish person undertaking or assisting in a marine emergency response anywhere in the world.
Any person who has given meritorious service to the Irish State in the execution of its marine emergency management remit or any Irish person who has given meritorious service to the cause of search and rescue or marine emergency management anywhere in the world can be nominated for a Meritorious Award.