I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity to raise with the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources this morning's gross act of attempted piracy by three Spanish steel-hulled super fishing vessels operating under a flag of convenience and registered in Britain on four Irish fishing vessels 40 miles off Mizen Head. I understand that those four Irish fishing vessels were seriously threatened and that attempts were made by the marauding Spanish fleet to seriously endanger the lives of the personnel aboard those Irish trawlers.
I am told that two of those Spanish vessels are registered under a flag of convenience at Milfordhaven docks and the other Spanish vessel is registered under a flag of convenience in Aberdeen. I am led to believe that one of the Milfordhaven registered vessels is the Sliebech II and that the Scottish registered vessel is the Glen-Elg.
The situation was so tense that the Irish fishing vessels had to quickly haul up their nets and withdraw from the fishing area concerned. This incident, I understand, was transmitted to the Irish naval patrol boat which was anchored in the safe waters of Bere Haven Sound. It is alleged the naval patrol boat did not go to the assistance to the Irish fishing vessels which were being seriously threatened by the Spanish vessels. I understand the excuse given by the fishery patrol vessel was that it did not know the exact area where the incident occurred, but I have now received information that the fishery patrol vessel received the exact co-ordinates with the message which was relayed to it by the stricken Irish fishing vessels concerned.
What action has the Minister taken on the matter? Has he protested to the Spanish Government, through its Ambassador in Dublin? Will he outline the reason the Irish naval patrol vessel did not go to the assistance of the Irish trawlers in their hour of need?
This is not the first time such incidents involving the Spanish fishing fleet have occurred on the high seas. I wish to bring to the attention of the Minister that those Spanish fishing vessels flying flags of convenience are registered in the same office in Milfordhaven docks as the Sea Horse, the Spanish trawler registered under a flag of convenience which was responsible for the fatal tragedy with the Danny Boy almost 12 weeks ago to the day.
We must treat this matter seriously and protest in the strongest possible manner against the outrageous incidents which are being provoked by the bully-boy tactics of the Spanish fishing vessels against the Irish fleet. The lives of Irish fishermen are at risk if such action is allowed continue, and I call on the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, to take immediate steps to stop these bully-boy tactics by the Spanish fishing fleet. If it is necessary to take a case to the European Court of Human Rights, the Minister ought to do so to ensure that the lives of Irish fishermen are protected and that Irish fishermen are given the right to fish in the waters where their forefathers fished since the foundation of the State.