Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is reviewing security at ports here in view of the recent seizure of 120 million contraband cigarettes at Greenore Port, County Louth; his proposals to enhance the security in all of the national ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39531/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The seizing of contraband cigarettes is a matter for the Customs and the Garda Síochána. My Department is responsible for the implementation of International and EU security requirements at Irish ports.

The annex to the International Convention for the Safety at Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 was amended in 2004 to include a new chapter concerning maritime security and which introduced the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code. In the European context, Regulation 725/2004/EC brought the maritime security requirements of SOLAS and the ISPS Code into community law.

In Ireland, since July 2004, port facilities receiving cargo vessels of 500 gross tonnes and above and those receiving passenger ships that are engaged in international trade have been required to comply with the EC Regulation and this includes Greenore port.

Port facilities require an approved port facility security plan and a port facility security officer is responsible for day-to-day security activities. The provisions of the EC Regulation and the ISPS Code only apply in relation to the "ship to shore" interface at ports.

Regarding enhancements to security in Irish ports, directive 2005/65/EC on enhancing port security extends the requirements for port security measures to cover adjacent relevant areas containing works and equipment designed to facilitate commercial maritime transport operations. The European Communities (Port Security) Regulations, S.I. 284 of 2007, transpose the Directive requirements into law in Ireland.

One of the directive's requirements is that Port Security Authorities (PSA) are required to be established. Following consultation with relevant stakeholders it was agreed that the port security authorities should include representation from the Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners as well as the port operators.

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) in my Department is currently working to finalise the implementation of the directive requirements. This includes the designation of port areas that will be subject to the enhanced security measures and the approval of port security plans covering such port areas.

Another initiative which my Department has, and continues to develop, is the Safe Seas Ireland (SSI) maritime information system. Vessels of 300 gross tonnes and over are required to provide security and other relevant information into the SSI before arriving into an Irish port. This information is provided via login and password to relevant stakeholders. Additionally the SSI is being developed to incorporate the security related information of the ports themselves. This single window system is already providing significant benefits to stakeholders that I expect will continue to grow as the system is developed further in the future.