Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
969. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he will take in response to the concerns and proposals of a trade union (details supplied) for protecting maritime workers from the long-term economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis. [5622/20]
View answerThe safeguarding of workers rights, including those in the maritime sector, is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation
The employment of seafarers and workers and the nationality of those workers is an operational matter for the shipping companies themselves as they are independent commercial companies and I have no role in the matter.
In the case of workers employed on Irish registered vessels, the working and living conditions of those employees on the vessel are subject to the provisions of Irish law.
However, the shipping companies referred to by the Deputy have no vessels on the Irish Flag. The rates of pay and working and living conditions of workers on board vessels registered in other States are governed by the flag State’s legislation and are a matter for that flag state and the internal domestic law of that country.
Given the negative economic impact of COVID-19, many companies across all sectors, including the port and shipping sector which is experiencing significant reductions in trade, are having to consider restructuring and other cost saving measures in order to re-align their business to match reduced demand.
