Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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770. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport why the Irish maritime administration in his Department is refusing to recognise British-approved maritime training courses from Irish training providers; if he recognises that this is putting Irish jobs at risk; if he is aware that 25 full and part-time staff at the National Maritime College of Ireland have been already served with redundancy notice; why he does not accept a course approved by a United Kingdom administration and undertaken here, given that he accepts this course if it is undertaken in the United Kingdom; why het is actively sending Irish seafarers to the United Kingdom for training and certification, given that the same courses are available in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21143/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​My Department has not refused to recognise the courses to which the Deputy refers. The Department has, however, identified legal and jurisdictional concerns which have been raised with the UK authorities and which I hope will soon be clarified. I have also arranged for my officials to meet with the relevant Irish stakeholders today in an endeavour to resolve the problems identified.