Vol. 460 No. 8
5 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Defence the total number of boats and personnel from the Navy involved in patrolling the Irish Box; and the plans, if any, he has for the spending of EU funds allocated for such patrolling and surveillance. [2211/96]
22 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the current number of ships and Naval Service personnel is adequate to provide an acceptable standard of fisheries surveillance in addition to other naval duties; the plans, if any he has to increase the current number of ships or personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2135/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 22 together.
The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The Naval Service currently has a total of seven vessels which are deployed in the most efficient manner on fishery protection duties having regard to current and predicted fishing patterns. The Naval Service fishery protection patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps in the form of aerial surveillance by the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft.
On the question of manpower, recruitment to the Naval Service is kept under continuous review within the Department so as to enable the Naval Service discharge its functions effectively. Fifty recruits were enlisted in the Naval Service in 1995 and the personnel strength of the service is at its highest ever level.
Under the new arrangements which came into operation on 1 January 1996, the total number of Spanish fishing vessels allowed in Irish waters remains limited to 93, of which 40 named vessels only are permitted to fish inside the Irish Box. The entry and exit reporting system, which requires prior notification by all large fishing vessels entering and leaving Irish waters and the Irish Box, is now in operation. This will enable our air and sea fishery protection services to closely target illegal access or other illegal fishing activity in Irish waters generally and in the Irish Box.
The Departments of the Marine and Defence are working closely together to ensure that our sea and land based fishery surveillance resources are deployed efficiently and effectively in implementing the new control and monitoring regime and ensuring that all vessels fishing in Irish waters comply with the rules.
Since the beginning of the year, the Naval Service and Air Corps have concentrated their patrol efforts in the Irish Box. The Naval Service has recorded 107 sightings of fishing vessels in the box, have boarded 26 vessels in the area and have detained two fishing vessels for alleged breaches of fisheries legislation within the Irish Box. In addition four other fishing vessels have been detained by the Naval Service for alleged breaches of the fisheries legislation in other areas. The Air Corps has carried out 26 aerial maritime patrols since 1 January 1996. Air Corps patrols are co-ordinated with the Naval Service patrols and sightings made by the CASA patrols are passed to the Naval Service vessels on patrol for whatever action they deem necessary.
With regard to additional fishery protection surveillance resources, enhancement of the protection capability is planned under the new EU five-year financial aid package for fisheries surveillance. The overall package was agreed at the Fisheries Council in October 1995. Under the package, Ireland will receive financial support for a significant programme of capital investment in fishery surveillance equipment and in this regard Ireland will attract a higher rate of EU aid than other member states. Additionally, in recognition of Ireland's very heavy surveillance costs, a sum of £12 million is to be made available to Ireland over the period 1996 to 2000 to fund operational needs of the protection service. Ireland is the only member state which will receive such support.
I will be putting a package of specific spending proposals for 1996 and future years to Government shortly and will commence negotiations with the Commission with the objective of securing the level of capital and operational resources identified as necessary to maximise our fishery surveillance programmes. The question of an additional ship for the Naval Service is being considered as one of these proposals and if a commitment for funding towards an additional ship is secured, then the question of additional recruitment to the Naval Service will obviously have to be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
The Commission has to decide on the 1996 programme before the end of March and at that stage I should be in a position to outline to the House the specifics involved, the make-up of the proposals, the level of support and the matching funds which Ireland will have to put up.
(Wexford): The Minister's reply was detailed and flowery. Last October, following his negotiations in Brussels, he gave more or less a similar reply but in the meantime very little happened. There are no additional Navy boats or personnel and, consequently, fishermen are concerned about the lack of protection from Spanish fishermen in our waters. Does the Minister accept that, because of the concerns of fishermen and in the interest of protecting our fishing stocks, we must spend some of the moneys allocated by the EU immediately, not next month or next year? Also, will he give a definite date as to when additional personnel and patrol boats will be provided by his Department?
I do not accept that we are lacking in any way in terms of fishery surveillance. The Naval Service and the Air Corps are doing an exceptionally good job as indicated in the facts and figures I outlined. In reply to later questions on the Order Paper I will give the Deputy more information on that matter.
We can over-exaggerate in regard to this matter and cause an unnecessary scare. On Monday last the press were invited to Haulbowline to see how the Naval Service operates and co-operates with the Air Corps. Any Member of the House who wishes to do so is more than welcome to visit Haulbowline. I would be pleased to make the necessary arrangements for members of the Opposition, particularly spokespersons, who wish to make that visit.
Some moneys have been spent from the operational funds we received, the only member state to avail of such money. We received £12 million to be expended over the period 1996 to 2000. We could only start spending that money on 1 January 1996 and the same applies in respect of capital grants. We have put in place procedures to develop proper plans, with professional advice from the Naval Service, the Air Corps and departmental officials, so that the money is spent wisely and with maximum results. Much of our efforts leading up to 1 January was expended on putting in place procedures to ensure that the new provision of reporting when entering and exiting the Irish Box operates properly. That will help considerably in controlling illegal fishing. There is now an obligation on fishermen from all member states to report when entering and exiting the Irish Box. In addition, as and from 1 January 1998 they will also have to report their catches when leaving the Box. This will ensure that quotas are adhered to and that other illegal fishing methods are eliminated.
Officials in the Departments of the Marine and Defence, the Minister of State, Deputy Gilmore, and I share the belief that those who abuse or break the law should be dealt with appropriately. We will deal with those who break the laws laid down by the European Union in regard to fishing. I am not suggesting that people have been adhering to the law, but our legislation, which was passed by the Deputy's party when in Government, is tougher than that of any other member state. I will ensure it is rigorously applied to those who insist on breaking the law.
(Wexford): Does the Minister accept the concerns of Irish fishermen about the lack of Spanish activity in the Irish Box? Our fishermen are concerned that the Spanish are playing a cat and mouse game with them and that as soon as the Navy and the patrolling system is diverted elsewhere there will be a stampede of Spanish fishermen into the Irish box. Is the Minister satisfied that the Navy and the Department are in a position to deal with such an invasion?
To allay any fears, including those of Deputy Browne, I will reiterate the exact position. As and from 1 January 1996, 93 Spanish vessels are entitled to fish in the Irish Box, but only 40 are entitled to do so at any one time. Those 40 must be named and report when entering and exiting the box. In other words, at any one time there should not be more than 40 Spanish vessels in the Irish Box. The advantage of the new system is that we will know the name and number of each vessel that is entitled to be in the Box and this will be closely monitored by the Air Corps, through the CASA aircraft, who will pass on the information to the Naval Service. There will not be any relaxation in terms of controlling the Irish Box. Given the strict controls imposed on people who insist on breaking the law and the manner in which we do our business, those who broke the law in the past will be conscious of the fact that if they wish to do so in the future they will be penalised.
(Wexford): I hope the Minister is correct.
We recently arrested the owner of a vessel which was just outside the Box, having fished in it. The vessel was brought to Cobh and the owner brought before the District Court. We received a bond for the value of the vessel, the gear and the stock and intend to proceed through the Circuit Court to confiscate the vessel, the stock and the gear. If we do that often enough people will realise we are serious about upholding our laws and perhaps those who have broken the law in the past will not do so in the future. Anyone who continually breaks the law should be put out of business. We do not have any compunction about going to Europe and leading the charge on further penalties to be agreed at European level, but in the meantime we should try to allay the fears generated by exaggeration in some foreign media about what is happening inside the Irish Box. I assure the Deputy that we are here to protect the fishing industry and Irish fishermen, and we intend doing so.
The Minister said that 50 recruits have joined the Naval Service. Can the Minister say how many have retired in the same period? I would like to pay tribute to them because they are doing an excellent job, but it is widely accepted that they are under-resourced and that there is a need for additional patrol boats to protect our coast. The Minister may say that a vessel coming into or leaving the Irish Box must indicate that it is doing so. However, it is not as if they are going into a classroom every morning and can be noted. There is much concern about the Spanish boats, and not just in Ireland. We have seen what happened elsewhere. Additional resources are needed. While we welcome the Minister's determination and the way he has dealt with the question, there is no doubt that the Spanish are expert at finding loopholes in the law. I hope all the resources sought by the Naval Service will be provided.
I would not like the message to go out that other member states who wish to break the law will go free while we concentrate on the Spanish. The reality is that 1,000 vessels are entitled to fish in Irish waters, and 40 of them are Spanish. The Spanish will be dealt with in the same way as any other member state. The law applies equally to all, and we will deal with whoever breaks the law, whether they are British, Spanish, French or anybody else. We are not just concentrating on Spanish vessels.
They are the biggest offender.
It is true that they have a bad track record but, because of the continuous efforts of the Naval Service and the Air Corps, the message is getting home. We also have sophisticated computer equipment which gives us much information which I will not disclose here because we do not tell people how we go about catching those who break the law. There is much information stored that would surprise many people if they had the opportunity of looking at it. If the Opposition spokespersons wish to look at the information we will make it available to them.
I can give the Deputy the information he requires about the Naval Service. Its strength at the end of November 1995 was 1,064 composed of 135 officers, 919 other ranks and ten cadets. This strength is the highest ever in the Naval Service. I do not have the figures relating to retirements, but I can get that information for the Deputy. We are the only member state to have got money under the EU operational scheme, and if we require more crew to man a new ship or ships we could get assistance.
Before proceeding further I have to advise the House that pursuant to Standing Order 36 (iii) I am obliged to take questions to the Minister for the Marine.
