Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
429. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a date has been set for him to meet with all interested parties to examine the possibility of rescuing Ireland's oldest surviving commercial ship, the Naomh Eanna; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Waterways Ireland's hired contractor has moved the ship into the breaking dock at Ringsend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9670/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Naomh Éanna was purchased by the Irish Nautical Trust (INT) and moored at Grand Canal Dock in 1989, when it could no longer meet health and safety requirements to operate as a passenger-carrying vessel. In April 2013, a report commissioned by INT on the hull condition of the vessel highlighted serious safety concerns. Based on the report’s findings, INT issued a ‘Notice to Vacate’ to both of the businesses that had been operating from the vessel. The Deputy will also be aware that Waterways Ireland offered to arrange for the removal and disposal of the ship on INT's behalf. Waterways Ireland made this offer as the property owners of the Grand Canal Dock because of the health and safety concerns arising from the condition of the vessel and because INT did not have the financial resources to deal with the matter. I am advised that INT accepted the offer and confirmed its approval to Waterways Ireland to dispose of the vessel on its behalf.
A commitment was given in the Dáil on Thursday 13 February 2014 that a meeting would be sought to enable the relevant bodies with an interest in this mater, including my own Department and Waterways Ireland, to determine if anything could be done to avert the disposal of the Naomh Éanna. This meeting took place on the following Tuesday, 18 February, and included officials from my Department, Waterways Ireland, the National Asset Management Agency and the Health & Safety Authority (HSA). The Marine Survey Office, Dublin City Council, Dublin Port Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency were also invited but were not in a position to send representatives.
The meeting concluded that the proper course of action to be taken was to proceed with the disposal of the vessel because of the continuing serious risk it posed, the disruption and expense that would be involved were it to sink in the Grand Canal and the absence of any firm indication that the very significant level of finance required to make it safe and insurable was potentially available. This decision was not taken lightly.
I am advised that a contractor moved the Naomh Éanna into dry dock at Ringsend on Wednesday 19 February 2014 and that the contractor will commence disposal following the safe removal of asbestos from the vessel, which it is anticipated could take up to three weeks.
