Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2014

National colours for Irish ships

34. (1) The national colours to be flown by Irish ships shall be the national flag except that—

(a) in the case of State-owned ships for which a special flag is prescribed under subsection (2), the national colours shall be the flag so prescribed, and

(b) in the case of ships in respect of which a special flag is authorised by flag warrant under subsection (3), the national colours shall be the flag so authorised.

(2) The Minister may prescribe a flag to be flown in lieu of or in addition to the national flag by State-owned ships or by specified types of ships.

(3) (a) The Minister may, by flag warrant issued to a body of persons, authorise the members of that body to use a flag in lieu of the national flag on specified Irish ships, and may by any such warrant impose conditions and restrictions on the exercise of the authority thereby conferred and may revoke any such warrant.

(b) An application for a flag warrant under this subsection shall be made in such a form and manner and be accompanied by documents, other supporting information and the appropriate fee as the Minister may determine from time to time.

(c) An application for a flag warrant under this subsection shall be considered by the Minister in consultation with the Chief Herald of Ireland (within the meaning of section 13 of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 ) and the Minister for Defence.