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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Jun 1984

Vol. 352 No. 1

Written Answers. - Seafarers' Convention.

149.

asked the Minister for Communications when this country will become a party to the International Convention on Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978; and the reason for the delay in ratifying the convention and enacting any necessary domestic legislation.

150.

asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware that our failure to ratify the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, is placing in jeopardy the jobs of Irish seamen working on British ships or employed by British companies who have obtained Irish Certificates of Competence and also damaging their promotion prospects having regard to the provisions of Merchant Shipping Notice No. M1129 issued by the Department of Transport, Marine Directorate in London, England, which came into force on 28 April 1984; and the steps that are being taken to deal with this issue.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, known as the STCW Convention, came into force internationally on 28 April last. The convention has as its aim the promotion of safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment by establishing internationally accepted standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.

Ireland is already substantially in compliance with the provisions of this convention. My Department have been examining the outstanding areas which need to be regulated and I will be making the necessary Ministerial orders relating to those areas in the next few weeks. After the orders have been made I will be arranging, subject to Government approval, for the STCW Convention to be ratified by Ireland.

I should say that there are no risks to the jobs or promotion prospects of Irish seamen who are at present working on British ships or employed by British companies and who hold Irish certificates of competency. Under the terms of the convention these certificates would continue to be recognised as valid by the British authorities for a period of five years even if Ireland were to delay ratification for that period which is certainly not our intention. Furthermore, as regards certificates issued after 28 April 1984, notwithstanding the provisions of Merchant Shipping Notice M1129, the United Kingdom authorities have agreed that, in view of Ireland's intention to ratify the STCW Convention shortly, the bilateral arrangements between our two countries for reciprocal reorganisation of certain certificates of competency will continue for the period between 28 April 1984 and the date on which the convention comes into force for Ireland.

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