Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

This matter has been discussed on previous occasions and I will not detail the background of the regulations. In the European context, Regulation 725/2004/EC brought the maritime security requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS, into community law and made substantial sections of various codes mandatory in the member states.

In Ireland, 52 port facilities are subject to the requirements of the regulation. Greencastle has not been so designated by the authorities here. The responsibility for maritime security in the port facility of Magilligan rests with the British Department for Transport and it has so designated it. As this ferry service operates across an inland waterway, rather than to sea, my officials have been in contact with their counterparts in the UK to consider a proposal that the ferry service as a whole should be considered as a domestic service falling outside the scope of the EU regulation. The UK authorities have designated it as international. I know it is not a very impressive building. We have not designated the Greencastle side.

The Department continues to monitor the situation closely and to seek a satisfactory resolution to the maritime security related difficulties, which have arisen in connection with this service. I suggest the Senator asks the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the 1949 Act but we are working on the practical issues and trying to get the UK to consider the matter differently. It designated its side as international and we have asked for this to be changed.