Vol. 451 No. 4
32 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make representations requesting that Spanish trawlers landing fish in Spain be inspected by fishery inspectors from other EU countries to ensure that the regulations in regard to total catch, net mesh size and the size of fish are adhered to in view of evidence that the regulations in relation to these matters are not being implemented by the Spanish authorities. [6622/95]
Under the relevant EU regulations, the monitoring of landings is a matter for the competent authorities of the member states in which the landings take place. The prospect of multinational inspections is, I regret, remote given that most member states are not favourably disposed to them.
EU Commission inspectors are, however, empowered to make unannounced visits to fishing ports in member states for the purposes of checking on national controls. A number of spot checks were undertaken by the Commission in all member states in 1994. I welcome the Commission's plans to further intensify its inspections this year.
Commission inspectors are also entitled to observe control and inspection activities carried out by the national control services. Where the Commission considers that there are irregularities, it has the power to insist that appropriate measures, including the initiation of court proceedings, be taken against the offending boats. It may also carry out an administrative audit of the monitoring system in the member state concerned and impose sanctions where considered necessary. I understand that the Commission will be reporting to Council on the outcome of the 1994 inspections by next June.
