Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 673: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any involvement in plans to develop a ferry link between Greenore in County Louth and Greencastle in County Down; his position on the plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5442/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the proposals from the information that the promoters of the proposed ferry link have submitted to me recently. This is an entirely private sector venture and it should be noted that it is not the practice of my Department to subsidise ferry routes, nor are there any funds available to my Department for this purpose.

I understand that a lot of preparatory work has been put into the plans over the last number of years and I wish those behind the venture the very best in their endeavours. The service would certainly be a positive addition to the transport and tourism services available in the area, and I know the tourism promotion agencies have offered their support.

I would note that in the provision of any such service, maritime safety is of paramount importance and the new service would require statutory certification by the Marine Survey Office in my Department.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 674: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by a company (details supplied) in respect of regulation MARPOL Annex VI which it is expected will apply in the Irish Sea from 2015; if his further attention has been drawn to the possible implications that this has for connectivity and ferry operations generally on the Irish Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5463/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as the MARPOL Convention) is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. The MARPOL Convention entered into force in 1983 and has been provided for in national legislation. Ireland is a party to the Convention and is represented in working groups where amendments to MARPOL are negotiated at International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meetings.

In 2005, the Protocol of 1997 to MARPOL, providing for the prevention of air pollution from ships, known as MARPOL Annex VI, entered into force. The provisions of this Protocol were implemented in full through the Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2006. MARPOL Annex VI provides, inter alia , sulphur content limits for fuel used in shipping, in recognition of the fact that sulphur emissions into the air significantly damage both human health (mainly through causing respiratory problems and cardiac ill-health) and the environment (e.g. through acidification on land). Shipping now represents a disproportionate source of such emissions and its emissions are anticipated to exceed those of land based sources in the future. Passenger ships in the EU operate mostly in ports or close to coastal areas and their impacts on human health are significant, hence the need to address this source of pollution.

I am aware of the concerns of the shipping industry, particularly in relation to potential fuel cost increases and its implications for connectivity and ferry operations in the Irish Sea.

In 2008, an amendment to Marpol Annex VI regulations, introduces lower sulphur limits in fuel from 3.5% to 0.1% in sea areas designated Emission Control Areas (ECA's) from 1 January 2015. However, as the seas around Ireland have not been designated an ECA these lower limits do not currently apply to Irish passenger ships operating in the Irish Sea. ECAs are designated by agreement of the parties to the IMO. Within the EU, the only ECAs are the North Sea and the Baltic. Currently, Ireland has no plans or evidence to support the introduction of an ECA in the Irish Sea by 2015. MARPOL Annex VI also reduces the sulphur content in fuels for global shipping (outside ECAs) from 3.5% to 0.5% in 2020.

Since 2006, under EU legislation passenger ships must use fuel with a sulphur content of 1.5% or lower. This includes passenger ships operating in the Irish Sea. In July 2011 the European Commission introduced a proposal to revise Directive1999/32/EC on the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels. The proposal seeks to lower sulphur content in fuel from 1.5% for passenger ships to 0.1% in 2020, but some Member States are seeking an earlier date of 2015. Ireland supports the 2020 date. Several Member States, especially those whose waters are already designated ECA's, are seeking to have all the waters of the EU designated as a ECA and that lower limits of 0.1% apply to passenger ships from 2015. Ireland has not and is not supporting this position.

Officials from my Department are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) to represent Ireland's national position at EU level where my Department has highlighted the concerns of the shipping industry. Discussions are continuing at EU working party level on this matter.