Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 to 159, inclusive, together.

The International Maritime Organization's Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, adopted in 2004, 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.

This is a particularly important international environmental Convention which requires all ships in international traffic to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard, according to a ship-specific ballast water management plan. All ships will also have to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast water management certificate. The ballast water management standards will be phased in over a period, with the 8 September 2024 set as the deadline for the majority of ships to have installed an on-board ballast water treatment system.

I recently signed into law the Sea Pollution (Ballast Water Management Convention) Regulations which will become operational once we have formally acceded to the Convention and which will allow us to implement its requirements and procedures.

The Deputy will be aware that under Article 29.5.2º of the Constitution, the terms of any international agreement that will result in a charge on public funds must be approved by Dáil Éireann. There will be minor costs involved in implementing the Regulations to give effect to the Convention, primarily related to the training of surveyors of the Marine Survey Office. In light of this, the Tánaiste is bringing forward a Memorandum for Government on my behalf seeking agreement from Cabinet colleagues to the bringing forward of a Dáil Motion for approval to formally accede to the Convention.

If Cabinet colleagues agree, it is my intention to bring forward that Motion shortly and if approved by Dáil Éireann, to deposit the formal instrument of accession with the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation as soon as possible. However, until such time as approval from Dáil Éireann has been received and the formal instrument of accession has been deposited, Ireland cannot legally implement, nor issue certificates under the Convention or the implementing regulations. In addition, under Article 18.3 of the Ballast Water Management Convention, there is a 3-month lead in period between accession and entry into force.

It is worth noting that even though Irish flagged internationally trading ships have not been issued with international ballast water management certificates, these ships do comply with the Convention, have ballast water systems in place and operate in line with Convention procedures.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to necessary approvals being received, it is anticipated that Ireland will be in a position to implement the Convention from Quarter 2 of 2024.