Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to an incident in early March 2006 requiring the towing of a Russian ship which came into difficulty in the Irish Sea; and if so, the details of the incident. [16517/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of an incident such as the one to which the Deputy refers. However, an incident occurred on the days 11 and 12 March in the UK Pollution Responsibility Zone of the Irish Sea, and may be the one the Deputy has in mind.

This incident of 11-12 March was managed by the relevant UK authority, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In towing the vessel involved in the incident, a Belgian-registered ship called the "Sesam", to port it was necessary to pass through part of the Irish Pollution Responsibility Zone. The Irish Coast Guard was informed in advance of this part of operations, but was not otherwise involved in managing the incident.

Marine Pollution/Salvage and Search and Rescue areas or zones are clearly established and agreed among member states and at international level. The incident referred to above did not occur in the Ireland pollution/salvage zone.