Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Nov 1994

Vol. 447 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - MARPOL Convention.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

101 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine when and if the MARPOL Convention was signed by Ireland in view of the reduction in blue flag awards for beaches in the year 1994 and bearing in mind the Coastwatch survey results over the past few years; the steps, if any, he is taking to reduce pollution at sea and thus improve the water quality of the sea around Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the MARPOL Convention. [3544/94]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

I am glad to inform the Deputy that on 11 October 1994 the Government approved the ratification by Ireland of the MARPOL Convention 73/78. The formalities for ratification of the Convention are now being completed. Three months following deposit of the instrument of ratification with the International Maritime Organisation in London the Convention will come into force in Ireland.

Ireland will be adopting the obligatory Annexes I and II and the optional Annex V of the Convention. These annexes relate to the control of pollution by oil, oily mixtures, noxious liquid substances carried in bulk and garbage. The optional Annex V is being adopted at this stage because of the deleterious effect which garbage — in particular persistent plastics — has on marine life and the blight which shipgenerated garbage can have on beaches.

The adoption of Annex V should have a positive influence on the aesthetic quality of our beaches which is one of the criteria in the award of the blue flag.

Steps to reduce pollution at sea are being taken on an ongoing basis. I would instance the following examples: (i) the dumping at sea of industrial wastes has been terminated and the dumping of sewage sludge is being phased out, (ii) Ireland is in the process of becoming party to the Salvage Convention, 1989 which provides for financial awards for the skill and efforts of salvors who prevent or minimise damage to the environment in their endeavours to salve a vessel and its cargo, (iii) the Irish Sea Science Co-ordination Group will be reporting in May 1995 on the potential for better integrated research and monitoring in the Irish Sea, (iv) a Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the United Kingdom on mutual co-operation and assistance in search and rescue and pollution control in the Irish Sea is being finalised, (v) the Irish Marine Emergency Service — IMES — of the Department continues to successfully combat oil pollution threats to the marine environment in maritime casualties and (vi) Ireland is making preparations to become party to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990.