Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the number of marine inspectors employed by his Department; the number of spot-check inspections carried out in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007; his plans to strengthen the inspection and invigilation of ships operating in Irish ports and waters; the Government's objectives at EU wide level to address the problems associated with vessels operating under flags of convenience and on strengthening EU wide regulations on safety, pay and working conditions for maritime workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32789/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of marine surveyors employed by my Department currently stands at 24. The number of "spot check" inspections carried out on foreign flag merchant ships visiting Irish ports (Port State Control) under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control and EU Directive 95/21, as amended, is as follows: In 2003, a total of 430 inspections were completed. In 2004, a total of 411 inspections were carried out. In 2005, a total of 422 inspections were completed. In 2006, the total of 24 inspections were completed. For the current year, 344 inspections had been completed by October 31st and it is expected that in excess of 400 inspections will have been completed before the end of the year.

Ireland is a member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Paris MoU, and currently holds the Chairmanship of the Paris MoU. Developments in Port State Control in the coming years will see the introduction of a new inspection regime, which should ensure comprehensive inspection of foreign ships entering all Paris MoU ports and a higher frequency of inspections for problem ships. There will be enhanced powers in this new inspection regime which will provide for wider powers to ban sub-standard ships. On the other hand the new inspection regime will reward quality shipping with less inspections.

In addition to the Port State Control Inspections referred to above, Ireland is a host state in accordance with EU Directive 99/35/EC and carries out mandatory safety inspections on regular ro-ro passenger ferries and high-speed passenger craft operating on international routes to/from Ireland. The figures for these inspections is as follows:

In 2003, a total of 26 inspections were completed. In 2004, a total of 23 inspections were carried out. In 2005, a total of 24 inspections were completed, and in 2006 the total number of inspections completed was also 24. So far in 2007, a total of 28 such inspections have been completed.

I can advise the Deputy that the terms and conditions of employment on board vessels are linked to the State in which the ship is registered. A comprehensive body of Irish employment rights legislation governs the conditions of employment, including minimum wages, of workers on board vessels under the Irish flag. This would include legislation dealing with minimum wages.

If the vessel is not registered in Ireland, then the port state control inspections referred above will cover the International Maritime Organisation's various Safety and Environment Protection Conventions as well as the International Labour Organisation Conventions. The inspection of the latter would cover the welfare of the crew (food, accommodation, hours of work etc) but would exclude rates of pay.

Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote global labour standards for seafarers. A new consolidated Maritime Labour Convention was adopted in February 2006 at the 94th International Labour Conference in Geneva. Ireland was represented at the 94th Conference by a tripartite delegation consisting of Government officials, nominees of the employers (IBEC) and of the workers (ICTU). The new Convention sets out clear principles and rights for seafarers. Ireland fully supports the new Convention and voted in favour of the proposal.

The European Commission has indicated that it will continue to study all possible solutions aimed at safeguarding employment in the maritime sector and that it would also continue to pursue the implementation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards into Community law and to encourage discussion on this issue within the framework of the European Social Dialogue.

During 2007, following requests from Member States and the European Parliament, the Commission launched a study titled "Study on the labour market and employment conditions in intra-Community regular maritime transport services carried out by ships under Member States' or third countries flags". The study is due to be completed by mid 2008 and Ireland has played its part in providing detailed information to the study.