Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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694. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the current status of a ship (details supplied). [2098/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the MV Alta which washed onto rocks close to Ballycotton, County Cork in February 2020.

Under the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act, 1993, it is the Minister for Transport who has particular resposibilities relating to wrecked or stranded vessels. The Act also sets out the responsibilities for the owner, the harbour authority, a local authority or the Commissioners of Irish Lights.  I therefore do no have any legal role in relation to any potential salvage operation of the MV Alta.

It should be noted that  a working group has been established by the Department of Transport on foot of a recommendation in a report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board on the grounding of the MV Alta . The group's role is to explore the risks and potential costs to the State presented by derelict ships entering Irish territorial waters and coming ahsore in Ireland, and to make proposals for means to identify, monitor, track and interdict derelict ships before they endanger others ships and seafarers. The Group is chaired by the Irish Coastguard and the Department of Defence, the Naval Service and the Air Corps are also represented.