Vol. 295 No. 1
asked the Minister for Defence if his Department have any plans to improve the fishery protection service by (i) restructuring the present system in relation to personnel and facilities (ii) providing extra boats and (iii) using planes and helicopters.
4.
asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the proposed extension of sea limits, the Government have made any plans for the establishment of air/naval sub-depots on the west coast so that a rapid expansion of these defence units could be undertaken as required.
5.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state how and by whom it is proposed to police the fishery waters within Ireland's 200-mile economic zone or 50-mile exclusive coastal band.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos 3, 4 and 5 together.
In accordance with long-established policy, fishery protection is one of the peace-time tasks assigned to my Department. No change in this arrangement is proposed. The question of the expansion and adaptation of both the Naval Service and the Air Corps so as to meet any increased fishery protection requirements which may arise as a result of the extension of the State's exclusive fishery limits is under consideration at present.
In view of the proposed development in fisheries and having regard to the fact that at the moment the fishery protection service is more or less a naval operation, will the Taoiseach not accept that it is necessary to have a separate organisation to deal solely with fishery protection? Have the Government given any consideration to this aspect of the fishery protection service?
The whole question of fishery protection is at present being examined in the light of the proposed extension of fishery limits as and from 1st January next.
I think I heard the Taoiseach correctly. Did he say that there were no proposals to have a further extension in the existing operation?
No. I said that in accordance with long-established policy, fishery protection is one of the peace-time tasks assigned to my Department and that no change is proposed in this arrangement. However, the matter of the extent of the protection in view of the extended fishery limit area is under consideration.
Will the Taoiseach not accept that there is a necessity to set up a separate unit apart from the naval defence structure we have to deal with fishery protection? For instance, I would cite what is happening in Iceland where they have a separate coastguard service dealing entirely with fishery protection.
As I have stated, the whole matter is under examination as to how it can best be done. However, there is no proposal to change the fact that fishery protection is one of the tasks assigned to the Department of Defence. Merely changing the responsibility does not mean it would be any more effective.
In view of what has been happening in the last few days with the huge flotilla of boats from EEC countries and from Russia, will the Taoiseach not accept that there is need for some immediate action to deal with this problem?
As the Deputy is aware, the Foreign Ministers of the EEC considered certain aspects of this matter and agreed on a resolution on 30th October which recognised the need for protection and the necessity for control of the fishing zone. They agreed that the implementation of available means of surveillance or those to be foreseen must be accompanied by appropriate measures to ensure that the charges for such protection are shared equitably.
