The Irish government has been committed to the development of the maritime transport sector with the establishment of the IMDO in December 1999 and supporting development across the sector through direct investment and the introduction of various incentives for training, employment and business including the following:

• The introduction of Irish tonnage tax in 2002.
• Social insurance refunds to Irish companies to encourage the employment of seafarers.
• Seafarers Additional Income Tax Relief.
• Several educational initiatives including an investment of €58 million in the National Maritime College of Ireland.
• Cost neutral training of deck officers, engineers and ratings funded through the innovative ISEAS grant scheme.

Total employment was estimated at 8,300 in Maritime Transport services and 14,000 when other direct transport services were included. The Maritime Transport sector employed more than 50% of all people directly employed in the Marine sector in Ireland. The shipping sector also had the highest economic output and the highest economic employee multiplier of all of the marine sectors.

Ireland possesses a sophisticated and competitive environment shipping services providers including: Tax advisory, maritime legal firms, and shipping finance.