Arising from Irelands international obligations the regulation of waste arising from offshore Exploration and Production activities is addressed through the Sea Pollution Act, 1991
and the Dumping at Sea Act, 1996.
The Sea Pollution Act, 1991 was enacted to give effect to MARPOL 73/78 and consequently provides for the prevention of pollution of the sea by oil and other substances and also applies to garbage.
The disposal of garbage is governed by the Sea Pollution (Prevention of Pollution by Garbage From Ships) (Amendment) Regulations, 1997 (516 of 1997). Under SI No 516 every ship and fixed and floating platform shall be provided by its owner with a Garbage Record Book. The Garbage Record Book can be purchased at the Mercantile Marine Offices:
Department of Transport, Room G26, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2
Ph: +353 1 6783481. Fax: +353 1 6783489
Government Buildings, Sullivans Quay, Cork
Ph: +353 21 4968992. Fax: +353 21 4968617
The OSPAR Convention of 1992 is implemented in Ireland by the Dumping at Sea Act, 1996 and applies to amongst other things the abandonment of installations into the Irish territorial sea and designated areas of the continental shelf. Section 4 of the Dumping at Sea Act, 1996 prohibits the disposal of offshore installations or any substances or material from any such installation into the Irish territorial sea or designated area save in accordance with a permit issued by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (in consultation with those bodies listed ) under Section 5 of the Act. However, Section 5 (12) states that Section 5 shall not come into operationas respects offshore installation until such day as the Government may by Order appoint.
Requirements under the Department's Licensing Terms regarding cover for liability for pollution damage (Section 60) will be satisfied where the operator is a member of the Offshore Pollution Liability Association Ltd. ("OPOL").
All relevant Acts and SI's can be accessed on the Irish Statute Book Website.