Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 1

Written Answers. - Certificates of Competency.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

365 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine whether, during Ireland's Presidency of the EU, an agreement can be reached between the Kingdom of Netherlands and Ireland in order to recognise their respective certificates of competency; and the reason this matter has not been dealt with to date. [24369/96]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

366 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine if he will issue a temporary licence for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that his livelihood is dependent on it. [24370/96]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

367 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine whether a temporary licence will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo until his certificate of equivalent competency issues from the United Kingdom in view of the fact that his livelihood is dependent on it. [24371/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 366 and 367 together.

Unlike the United Kingdom, my Department has no mechanism in place for verifying the standard of equivalency of certificates of competency from other EU member states.

I understand the person concerned has recently applied to the relevant United Kingdom authorities for a certificate of equivalent competency. While there is a bilateral agreement in place between Ireland and the United Kingdom which provides for the mutual recognition of certificates of competency, my Department cannot consider any further action in this matter until such time as the United Kingdom authorities issue this person with the appropriate certificate.

In addition to the bilateral agreement in place between Ireland and the United Kingdom, Ireland has mutual recognition agreements with member states of the British Commonwealth such as Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. To date, there are no other bilateral agreements in place for the mutual recognition of certificates of competency with fellow EU member states.

Officials from my Department are currently examining several issues which have come to light regarding the recent transposition into Irish law by the Department of Education of council directives giving effect to the mutual recognition of certificates of competency within the European Union. I am advised that under these directives, it may be possible for EU nationals to have their certificates of competency recognised.

While it is my intention that my Department will review the scope for, as well as pursuing where appropriate, certificate of equivalent competency arrangements with Member states based on genuine equivalence and mutuality, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that this process will take some time to complete. In order to establish that there is mutual recognition on the basis of genuine equivalence between Irish certificates of competency and those of the other member states involved, my Department's marine survey office will have to be satisfied that the training, examination syllabi and related elements of such certificates of competency are in line with the Irish certificates of competency.