Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the position of Irish vessels not been granted load lines which will result in non-Irish registered vessels supporting and guarding the future development of floating offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51300/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Any vessel carrying out guard duties for offshore renewable energy projects are cargo ship and as such must at least hold an Irish Load Line Certificate. Such certificates can only be issued to cargo ships and if a fishing vessel is proposed to be employed in such activities that they must be converted to a cargo ship, as fishing vessels are excluded from the application of the Load Line Act. All cargo vessels whether Irish flagged or otherwise are treated in the same manner and any such vessel which complies with the statutory requirements will be issued with such certification.