Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the entry of a ship (details supplied) into Irish waters and the allegations that its crew members are owed thousands of euro in unpaid wages; the action he is taking to address exploitation of workers in the maritime sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21280/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The mv Defender, IMO Number 6919837, is registered in Cambodia. As a foreign ship entering an Irish port, she is subject to Port State Control inspections carried out in accordance with the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control.

The vessel was detained in Cork on 17th April 2008 following an inspection carried out by marine surveyors from my Department. The inspection revealed a total of 14 deficiencies, 5 of which posed an immediate and serious threat to the safety of the ship and the crew. The detention was lifted after 5 days following a re-inspection of the vessel.

During January 2009 the vessel was under detention for 11 days in the United Kingdom.

On 3rd March 2009, the vessel was inspected in Cork and the surveyors noted several deficiencies including watch keeping arrangements, safety management and matters related to living and working conditions onboard, which warranted the further detention of the ship. This detention was lifted after a period of 40 days following a further re-inspection of the vessel.

My Department does not have responsibility for the non-payment of wages on board foreign flagged ships which is a matter for the flag State, in this case Cambodia.

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 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. EU member states are committed to ratifying the new Convention by 31 December 2010 and it is expected to come into force internationally in 2011.