asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the series of attacks on our fishermen by foreign vessels off the south-west coast, which included the ramming of one Castletownbere based fishing boat and the attempted ramming of another yesterday; and the immediate steps he will take to provide adequate protection for the future so that our fishermen can pursue their livelihood without danger to themselves and their boats.
Private Notice Question. - Protection of Fishing Vessels.
I have received reports of a number of recent incidents involving alleged interference with Irish fishing vessels by foreign vessels. A full investigation is in train. A statement, a copy of which I have received, has been made to the Garda at Castletownbere. The staff of my Department and the Navy are actively involved in follow-up action. I am preparing letters to my corresponding Ministers for France and Spain calling their attention to this very serious matter with a view to getting action to put a stop to such incidents. I have also contacted my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Gerry Collins, for his assistance in this matter.
Does the Minister accept that these attacks and acts of intimidation are very serious — they involved four Castletownbere vessels in the past few days — and that action is necessary immediately at a number of levels, including possibly changes in the law, protests to the Government of Spain in particular and possibly France and action at European Community level?
I wholeheartedly agree with the Deputy that these matters are very serious for our fishermen and international relations. As I indicated in my reply, I am committed to action to see that this stops.
The Deputy referred to changes in the law. This is very pertinent also in this case. There is a set of regulations covering incidents within the 12 mile limit but there seems to me, as a lay person in legal matters — I know the Deputy is a solicitor — to be a gap with regard to incidents such as these on the high seas. The international law of the sea seems to be deficient in this regard. However, that does not help us with the immediate case referred to by the Deputy. The Navy are busy in that area at the moment, and successfully so I gather, but are confined to dealing with the fishery laws arising out of the Common Fisheries Policy. They cannot take any action in the case of a fishing boat being rammed.
Will the Minister ensure, through his colleague the Minister for Defence, that whatever protection can be given to our fishermen by our Naval Service will be given? Will he also ensure, through his colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that at EC level the proper regulatory regime will not be just in place but will be enforced?
I want to bring to the attention of the Minister the information given to me. As I understand it, these vessels are based at Vigo, La Coruna and San Sebastian and the EC regulations are not enforced in their home ports. Can our Government ensure through the EC that this will be done?
The activities in Vigo and La Coruna are not matters that we can deal with. This is a different matter.
Indirectly they are affected by them.
The Department of Defence are more than active in the area but were inhibited so far as this incident was concerned in that they can only deal with breaches of the fisheries laws. With regard to the other point raised by the Deputy I should like to tell him that I have taken steps to inform the Commission of what has happened. I have called the Commission's attention to their obligations in the matter.
To reassure the fishermen who live in my constitutency the Minister should give an undertaking that whatever steps are necessary at any level will be taken by the Government to ensure that the constant intimidation by these modern Spanish armadas is ended.
I can give the Deputy that assurance.
Is the Minister aware that there was another act of provocation by a Spanish trawler last night? Is he aware that serious damage was caused to an Irish vessel? The matter is serious and I urge the Minister to act to stop these attacks on Irish fishing boats on the high seas.
The Deputy must be aware that the boat in question Laurore is French registered but, apparently, Spanish owned.
And Spanish crewed.
I have received reports of other incidents. I can assure the Deputy that there will not be any neglect in pushing our case for simple justice at sea on these matters.
Am I in order in seeking permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of my Priority Question which was disallowed?
It is in order for the Deputy to make such a request and the Ceann Comhairle will communicate with the Deputy during the day.