John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures that he will take to ensure that foreign naval vessels that conduct anti-submarine warfare drills in Irish waters take appropriate measures to protect marine life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34621/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At the outset let me state that under international law other State's naval ships or vessels are within their rights to carry out a training exercise in Ireland's EEZ or to traverse the Irish EEZ. This is not in any way an infringement of our national territory. In this context it is not unusual for naval ships or vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within Ireland's EEZ or to passage through this area. This would normally involve prior notification to Irish Authorities where an exercise was taking place close to our Territorial Waters but this is not a requirement.

While I do not have respsosibility for the protection of marine life, I am advised that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have responsibility for implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC). This Directive and an associated Amendment and Decision (2017) are designed to ensure the achievement and maintenance of good environmental status and the sustainability of human activities within the marine waters of the EU using a set of 11 qualitative descriptors to do so. It should be noted that under Article 2 of the Directive there is the provision that the Directive “shall not apply to activities the sole purpose of which is defence or national security”, as would be the case for training by naval ships and vessels.

I am also advised that all cetaceans are protected under the EU’s Habitats Directive and Ireland is required to report to the EU Commission on their conservation status every six years. Twenty-four species of cetacean have been recorded from Irish waters.

I acknowledge previously raised concerns, which were addressed by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, around the impact on cetaceans in Irish waters from underwater noises and acoustic disturbance, including sonar. I undersatnd the hearing system of marine mammals is particularly susceptible to damage and the deep-diving beaked whale species are known to be especially vulnerable. I would direct further concerns on this matter to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who has responsibility for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

As Minister O'Brien's Department has noted previously, the use of sonar technology by naval vessels has the potential to disturb, displace and even kill cetaceans. However, Ireland is not a NATO member and the Naval Service does not currently employ sonar technology in its operations.

The Defence Organisation is supportive of the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have a Service Level Agreement in place for the provision of assistance by the Air Corps to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, subject to availability and operational commitments. The Air Corps support the National Parks and Wildlife Service in areas including surveys of habitats and species, surveillance for protection of habitats, and occasional assistance with works requiring lifting into or from remote areas.