What Irish personnel are involved in monitoring the Oslo and London Conventions? If Irish personnel are not involved in such monitoring will the Minister indicate how the results of that process are directly conveyed to the Irish authorities?

In any case where waste originates here in any shape or form it is monitored here. I am sure each country has responsibility for monitoring its own waste. I am not aware if there is a pooling of the results of this monitoring but after I have that matter examined I will bring the details to the attention of the Deputy.

Is the Minister saying that under those conventions waste may have been dumped in the ocean which is deteriorating in its canister form but this country has not any way of monitoring that directly?

No. Dumping is not carried out in Irish territorial waters.

Unfortunately, waste does not respect the notional limit around the coast. Is the Minister saying that we cannot monitor that at present?

We have control over and monitor any waste dumped in our territorial waters. There are sites in international waters 240 to 300 nautical miles south of the Fastnet and that is the nearest dumping ground to us. There is a responsibility on the nation originating the waste to have that monitored. I am not aware where that information is fed into the Community machine but I will find out for the Deputy.