Assistant Secretary, Maritime Transport

Maritime transport policy plays a crucial role in facilitating Ireland’s economic growth and prosperity as well as maintaining connectivity with our trading partners. The sector’s mission is to enable a safe, sustainable maritime sector that meets its domestic needs and international obligations, and protects Ireland’s economic interests as an island nation.

The Assistant Secretary has responsibility for:

• Leading on research, development and implementation of maritime transport policy on climate, environment and sustainability, offshore renewable energy facilitation from Irish ports, and climate change mitigation and adaptation for the maritime sector in order to support an effective transition to low carbon and sustainable maritime transport.
• Driving engagement across key stakeholders such as the port and shipping companies, electricity providers, and fuel experts, together with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment on the rollout of onshore power supply infrastructure for ports.
• Working closely with national, EU and international stakeholders across passenger services, freight services and shipping companies to ensure that our essential supply chains operate as efficiently as possible in the post-Brexit trading environment.
• Management and oversight of the development of policy and the regulation of the safety, security, pollution prevention and living and working conditions of all Irish ships and crew; oversight of inspection of foreign flagged ships and crews in Irish ports, and management and oversight of the approval of port security plans;
• Oversight of the State port companies, operating within the national transport network, which are efficient, effective and adequate for the needs of our trading economy;
• Promoting and supporting the maintenance of, and increase in, Irish based ship ownership/ management and fostering economic development and employment in the maritime transport sector.