Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the responsible State regulatory body with oversight for the safe operation of all ferry companies providing services in the State subsidised or otherwise to island communities; the inspections and checks such a body undertakes to ensure that safety measures of such operators are fully compliant with the regulations including the accurate accounting for passenger numbers on each ferry trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59925/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Merchant Shipping Act, 1992, as amended, is the primary legislation relevant to the operation of passenger ships and passenger boats operating on domestic voyages in Ireland. Passenger ships are required to undergo annual surveys undertaken by the Marine Survey Office (MSO) for the issue of a Passenger Ship Certificate. For passenger boats, the requirement is for a biennial inspection by the MSO for the issue of a passenger boat licence. Depending on the area of operation and size of vessels etc. other regulatory requirements may apply.

In relation to the recording of persons onboard passenger ships, Council Directive 98/41/EC, as amended, sets out the requirements for the registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships operating to or from ports of the Member States. This Directive is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Registration of Persons Sailing on board Passenger Ships) Regulations 2019. Operators of seagoing passenger ships are also required to have in place a safety management system.

In addition to the scheduled annual surveys, the MSO carries out unscheduled inspections of passenger vessels whilst they are in service, especially during the busy summer period, at which time compliance with operational safety requirements is checked.