Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 6

Written Answers. - Harassment of Fishing Trawlers.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

54 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the harassment of two Irish fishing trawlers, namely the MFV Laochra Beara and the MFV Silver Fern by flagships off the south-west Cork coastline on the morning of 17 January 1994; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to ensure that incidents such as this will not occur in the future.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

55 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine whether his attention has been drawn to two further incidents in January 1994 of harassment and intimidation of boats fishing out of Castletownbere, County Cork, by flagship vessels; the steps, if any, he is taking at European Union and bilateral levels to voice our concerns about such dangerous incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.

The Department of the Marine has been informed of the incident referred to by the Deputies in which the skippers of two Irish registered vessels alleged harassment and in one case having their boat and gear towed astern by a flagship off the south-west coast. In the past the practice has been to seek a signed affidavit concerning incidents of this nature and when such is received, the Department conveys a formal complaint through the Department of Foreign Affairs, to the Flag State of the vessel involved. Unfortunately however, in this instance because the incident occurred in the hours of darkness, the skippers of the Irish vessels were not in a position to obtain the names or registration numbers of the vessels involved.

I can assure the Deputy that I take a very serious view of any interference with the lawful activities of Irish fishermen and there is close liaison between the Department and the Naval Service in an effort to mount preventative patrols in areas of contention. I have consistently expressed deep concern to ministerial colleagues at EU Council level. They have indicated a willingness to take action against those who could be proven culpable. In addition during my talks with him last September the Spanish Minister, Mr. Loira Rua, agreed to examine the possibility of establishing a code of conduct relating to the use of different fishing methods.

At an operational level, a framework has been put in place whereby the officials in my Department have ongoing contact with the control authorities in each member state, in particular those with fishing rights in Irish waters. Every alleged incident is reported immediately. I should emphasise the importance of indentification in such cases. Where the offending vessel can be identified either through its name or number the matter will be pursued to the utmost.

The Deputy will be aware from previous statements to the House, that the appropriate legal form of redress in cases of collision outside our territorial waters is by way of a civil action. Ships moving within our territorial waters are governed by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972.