Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:289 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which safety at sea regulations have been updated at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6501/03]
Written Answers - Marine Environment Protection.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:292 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he has influenced international thinking in regard to safety at sea with particular reference to the quality of oil tankers on the high seas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6504/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 292 together.
I refer the Deputies to my reply of 29 January 2003, in which I set out the initiatives that have been taken at EU and national level to protect the marine environment from pollution from ships and particularly oil tankers, including the measures that were introduced following the oil tanker Erika catastrophe in December 1999, which polluted almost 400 kilometres of the French coastline. The Prestige incident, which occurred off the coast of Spain in November 2002, has added further impetus to the drive to improve arrangements for transporting oil. I have strongly supported measures adopted by the Council of EU Transport Ministers committing EU member states and the Commission to undertaking a number of new measures. These measures, which are now the subject of examination at official working group level, include further accelerated phasing out of single-hull oil tankers, proposed banning of heavy fuel oil from single-hulled tankers in EU waters, further strengthening of port state control provisions, and, where possible, implementation earlier than had previously been planned of aspects of the measures which followed the Erika incident.
Discussion is continuing at official working group level with a view to adoption by transport ministers at Council on 27 and 28 March 2003. As part of the group, officials from my Department are currently examining the detail of the proposals, including assessing the possible effect of phasing out smaller single-hull tankers from the provision of necessary oil supplies to this country. Ensuring that our coastline is protected from marine pollution incidents will remain a priority for me.