Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any official awards ceremony whereby members of the public can nominate persons or organisations under his Department, for example the Irish Coastguard, for an act of exceptional courage performed in the course of their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17058/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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A marine awards committee under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport provides for the granting of Marine Gallantry or Meritorious Service Awards. Details can be found on the Department's web site at  http://www.dttas.ie/viewitem.asp?id=13339&lang=ENGamp;loc=2073. It is open to any individual, agency, organisation or service to make submissions and recommendations for marine awards.

A Marine Gallantry award may be considered in respect of any person undertaking, or assisting in, a marine emergency incident:

- within the State and its emergency response responsibility zones;

- to or on an Irish vessel anywhere in the world;

- by a declared Coast Guard resource anywhere in the world; and

- any Irish person undertaking or assisting in a marine emergency response anywhere in the world.

Any person who has given meritorious service to the Irish State in the execution of its marine emergency management remit or any Irish person who has given meritorious service to the cause of search and rescue or marine emergency management anywhere in the world can be nominated for a Meritorious Award.