Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today, we ask the Minister of State to speak specifically on the consideration the Department has given to the request and when a decision can be anticipated. In response to a written question raised by Deputy Cronin regarding the flotilla, the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, set out the general procedures on providing the flags for the vessels. This is information we already know. We do not need the Minister of State to set out again the process of registration, inspection or surveying of vessels in the general sense. We ask him instead to speak specifically about the vessels attached to the freedom flotilla. A number of the vessels are currently harboured in Turkey. We ask that the Minister of State clarify, in his response, whether and how registration, inspection and surveying could be facilitated with this in mind. It is our understanding that section 21 of the Mercantile Marine Act 1955 provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, consent to the registry of a ship under the law of another country, while section 25 provides that if the rules for the measurement of the tonnage and build of ships in another country are similar to the tonnage regulations in Ireland, the Minister may recognise certificates of measurement and build issued by that country. We hope the Minister of State will speak on how these sections of the Act interact in the case of the flotilla specifically. We can be proud of the leadership Ireland has shown to date on Palestine but we need to take swift, material and tangible action to take the steps within our power to bring the blockade, occupation and genocide to an end. That is not just what is required of us morally, but is also our obligations under international and humanitarian law. The flotilla is currently the only party meaningfully acting to execute the orders of the ICJ, the UN Security Council and international maritime and human rights law. By granting permission for the use of our flag, we can take meaningful and tangible steps of our own. I thank the Minister of State.