Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Transport his estimate of what his Department have made of the contribution of the maritime and shipping sector to transport emissions here particularly in view of the recent report carried out an organisation (detail supplied) for the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shipping emissions are expected to be as much as three times higher than currently thought; if he has proposals to tackle the level of Irish shipping emissions; his views on whether shipping should be part of the reformed EU's Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9626/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of emissions from ships receives continued attention at national, EU and international level. While there is some evidence that the level of emissions from ships is greater than previously estimated it remains well below those of other transport modes.

Annex VI to the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1997 to control emissions with a view to preventing air pollution from ships.

Annex VI which has applied internationally since 2005 is currently under review at IMO with a view to further reducing emissions from ships. The organisation to which the Deputy refers has contributed to the review process by means of a detailed submission. My Department is fully engaged in the review process both at EU level and at IMO and fully supports many of the points made in the submission. This matter is to be next discussed at IMO during the week commencing 31 March 2008.

Should a proposal be made to include shipping as part of the reformed EU Trading Scheme I would welcome discussion to enable an informed discussion to be made in due course.