Vol. 464 No. 4
12 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself with the strength of naval surveillance for fishery protection and the monitoring of drug trafficking on ports along the southern seaboard. [8216/96]
The main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance the 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.
In 1996 to date, the Naval Service has recorded a total of 747 sightings of fishing vessels, including sightings of vessels in the southern seaboard, of which 279 were boarded. Of the 279 fishing vessels boarded, 15 were subsequently detained for alleged breaches of fisheries legislation. The Air Corps have carried out 118 aerial fishery patrols since the beginning of the year. These patrols are co-ordinated with the Naval Service patrols and sightings made by the CASA aircraft are passed to the Naval Service vessels on patrol for whatever action is considered necessary.
Responsibility for the prevention of the illegal importantion of drugs rests primarily with the Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. The Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, respond to requests from the civil authorities for assistance, including assistance in combating the illegal importation of drugs, and they will continue to do so.
