Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, as previously indicated, Ireland remains on course in 2024 to ratify ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention 2007, and what if any part of relevant EU Directives that arose from this convention remains to be transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3536/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The International Labour Organization's (ILO's) Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 was adopted at the 96th session of the International Labour Conference on 14 June 2007. The Convention sets out minimum requirements with regard to conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security. In effect, the Convention aims to create a single, coherent instrument to ensure international standards for decent living and working conditions in the fishing sector.

The European Union supports the Work in Fishing Convention and the European Council authorised EU member states to ratify the Convention by way of Council Decision 2010/321/EU. The European Commission further endorsed the objectives of the Work in Fishing Convention though Council Directive (EU) 2017/159. The Directive contains a Social Partners’ Agreement, concluded in 2012, which aims to implement the Convention. This Directive has been transposed in Ireland in full.

The Directive reflects most of the requirements of the Convention. However, there are elements of the Convention that were not included in the Directive such as the application of the Convention, timing of payments to fishers, recruitment services, certain social protection matters, surveys and issuing of certificates of compliance with the Convention.

In order to ratify the Convention, primary legislation is required. Officials in my Department are currently drawing up a general scheme for a planned Merchant Shipping (International Conventions) Bill, which will provide the required legislative framework for Ireland to become a party to several international maritime conventions, including the Work in Fishing Convention. It is my intention that Government approval be sought in 2024 to proceed with drafting the Bill.