Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the levels of pay and working conditions aboard the Cork to Swansea ferry (details supplied) and the impact of the proposed EU legislation on the Cork to Swansea service and all the vessels and ferries which facilitate Ireland's trade. [19944/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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All merchant vessels of any significant size must be registered. There are over 140 ship registers in operation worldwide. Ship registers impose obligations on ship owners regarding maintenance, crewing standards and certification of those matters by the flag state or inspection bodies duly authorised by the flag state.

My responsibilities in regard to enforcing these obligations are confined to Irish registered ships; the operation of other ship registers is governed by applicable national and international law. Within the European Union there is freedom for ship operators to go on any EU membership ship register or on any third country ship register. I have no statutory function in relation to seafarers' wages.

The particular ship referred to by the Deputy is not registered on the Irish ship register. Obligations on the ship's owners regarding maintenance, crewing standards and certification of these matters are appropriate to the flag state concerned, which I understand in this case is St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Foreign registered vessels using Irish ports are inspected regularly by the marine survey office of the Department in the exercise of Ireland's port state control obligations. These inspections are aimed at ensuring that such vessels are maintained and operated in compliance with international safety standards laid down by the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, and, in relation to seafarers' social conditions, by the International Labour Organisation's, ILO, maritime conventions, together with relevant EU initiatives in the maritime area. Deficiencies identified are brought to the attention of the owner and flag state administration and may have to be rectified before the ship continues its journey.

Ireland participates in EU, IMO and ILO discussions on seafarers' welfare, supporting proposals aimed at improving their terms and conditions of employment. Ireland will continue to support efforts in all appropriate fora to enhance working conditions for seafarers and will continue to enforce safety and operational standards through the port state control framework. The Department is not aware of any proposed EU legislation that would be intended to impact on the pay and working conditions of seafarers aboard the vessels to which the Deputy refers.