The Irish Delegation to IALA with IALA Secretary General and Council President: (L-R) Ronan Boyle, Director of Navigation, Maritime and Consenting, Irish Lights: Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO, Irish Lights; Marcos Almeida, IALA President; Francis Zachariae, IALA General Secretary; Eamonn Kelly, Assistant Secretary General, Maritime Policy, Department of Transport; William Priestley, Principal Officer, Maritime Transport Division, Department of Transport.

Ireland has been successfully elected to the Council of IALA, the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation. IALA was founded in 1957 and has recently transitioned into an inter-governmental organisation. The Irish Government ratified the IALA Convention in May 2023 marking a significant milestone in Ireland’s commitment to international co-operation in maritime safety and to shaping the future of global navigation.

The election of Ireland to the new IALA Council took place during the inter-governmental organisation's inaugural General Assembly in Singapore on 20 February, 2025. Ireland will be represented on the Council by the Chief Executive of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Yvonne Shields O’Connor.

As a member of the IALA Council and a member of the IALA technical committees, Ireland will play a central role in shaping global maritime navigation standards, including advancements in marine aids to navigation, digitalisation, climate adaptation, navigation risk assessment and harmonisation of safety standards. Irish Lights, in collaboration with the Department of Transport, will continue to work closely with international partners to ensure Aids to Navigation (AtoN) are a key priority for maritime safety, Marine Spatial Planning and the protection of the marine environment. 

Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said:

“This election underscores Ireland’s leadership in maritime safety and the development of international standards and guidelines for navigation. The Department of Transport is proud to support IALA and recognises the value and importance of the work it does in an era of technological change and environmental challenges. Ireland is committed to working with IALA and the global maritime community to enhance safety, security and sustainability at sea.”

 Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, said:

“This is an outstanding outcome for Ireland as a maritime nation with a proud history of seafaring. Ireland will continue to contribute to the important work of IALA, developing standards that improve maritime safety throughout the globe. Ireland will be ably represented on the new IALA council by the CEO of Commissioners of Irish Lights, and I wish her the best of luck for her term.”

 Yvonne Shields O’Connor, Chief Executive of Irish Lights, said:

“Ireland’s election to the IALA Council is a recognition of our long-standing commitment to international co-operation through the work of the technical committees at IALA. Irish Lights is honoured to contribute its expertise to IALA’s mission, particularly in areas such as the harmonisation of marine aids to navigation, digital transformation and sustainability of AtoN systems.”

 Ireland’s role on the IALA Council will focus on key strategic areas critical to the future of maritime navigation. These include addressing the impact of climate change on maritime operations, by ensuring that our AtoN Network is adaptable and resilient; advancing the agenda in 2027 at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) on global maritime communications; and facilitating collaboration with the International Hydrographic Organisation to implement the S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model and support emerging digital navigation services.

Irish Lights’ 2025-2030 strategy is fully aligned with IALA’s mission, reinforcing its dedication to safe navigation, technological innovation and sustainable maritime operations. As a newly elected IALA Council member, Ireland looks forward to strengthening international partnerships and driving progress in the global maritime sector.