Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has instigated a review, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, of security at our national ports in view of the ongoing seizures of hundreds of millions of contraband cigarettes at the ports; his estimate of the total number of contraband cigarettes that are smuggled here through the ports; if this matter has been discussed at Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6441/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to refer the Deputy to the reply to a similar Parliamentary Question I gave in the House on Thursday 5th November 2009 (Dail Question No 22). To clarify the matter, the seizing of contraband cigarettes in Ireland is the responsibility of the Customs and An Garda Síochána. The role of my Department is that it 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 EU Regulation. 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 EU 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, transposed 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 An 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 SafeSeasIreland (SSI) maritime information system. Vessels of 500 Gross Tons and over are required to provide security 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.