Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to implement the international ballast water management convention which is expected to come into force in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38847/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments 2004, known as the BWM Convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at a Diplomatic Conference held in London on 13th February 2004.The Convention aims to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms from one region to another, by establishing standards and procedures for the management and control of ships' ballast water and sediments. It will enter into force on 8 September 2017. Provision to give effect in Ireland to the Convention was made in the Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006. This provision was subject to the making of a ministerial commencement order.

However, since the Convention was adopted in 2004, a number of changes have been made by the IMO which will affect its implementation. As recently as last October, further changes have been proposed.

While a Statutory Instrument has been drafted by my Department to commence the Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, the changes which have been, and continue to be, made to the implementation of the Convention require further complex re-drafting of the S.I.

However, I am confident that this secondary legislation will be in place in sufficient time to commence the relevant parts of the Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, prior to the coming into force of the Convention next year.