Maritime Jurisdiction

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022

Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Questions (213, 214)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

213. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport when he and his Department were each first notified of the proposed military exercises by the Russian Federation which were originally proposed to be conducted in Ireland’s exclusive economic zone; the checks that his Department is required to perform to ensure all necessary permits, licenses, consents or permissions have been secured before issuing a marine notice; the considerations that inform the posting of a marine notice; the person or body that requested the posting of marine notice 6 of 2022 by his Department; the date the notice was requested; the authority that requested same; the person or body that authorised the posting of the marine notice by his Department; the information that was provided to support the lawfulness of the activities proposed; the person or body that provided that information; if the information will be provided to both Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11182/22]

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

214. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport when he and or the relevant Minister of State and his Department were each first notified of the proposed military exercises by the Russian Federation which were originally proposed to be conducted in Ireland’s exclusive economic zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11185/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

On 19 January 2022, my Department was informed by the Irish Aviation Authority of a request they had received from the Russian authorities to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in respect of an area of Irish controlled airspace due to proposed military exercises scheduled to take place in February.  Such a notice would ensure that civilian aircraft would avoid the area. 

It was noted that the exercises were due to take place in international waters, outside of Ireland’s territorial sea but within the Irish EEZ.   In accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s Safety of Life at Sea Convention (IMO SOLAS) Chapter V Regulation 4 on navigational warnings, Ireland is obliged to take all steps necessary to ensure that, when intelligence of any dangers is received from whatever source, to promptly bring this knowledge to those concerned. On this basis and as is the normal course with any notification my Department receives which may impact on vessels operating within the Irish EEZ, my Department issued a Marine Notice to advise mariners of operations due to take place so they may navigate safely.  My Department issues Marine Notices on a regular basis, mainly for safety of navigation purposes, which is done on foot of notifications received in my Department and based on the information provided.  The information provided is set out in the Marine Notices themselves, where it is noted that they are “issued purely for maritime safety and navigation reasons and should not be construed as conferring rights or granting permissions”.  My Department has no role in processing or approving applications for any type of operations to be undertaken in the Irish EEZ whether they are military operations or geophysical surveys. 

Question No. 214 answered with Question No. 213.