Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 4

Written Answers. - Fines Imposed on Foreign Vessels.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

47 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine the use that is made of moneys which are collected by way of fines on foreign fishing vessels apprehended for illegal fishing within Irish waters; and the total amount collected by way of these fines in each of the years 1990 to 1995. [5594/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Fines imposed by the courts on the skippers of both foreign and Irish vessels convicted of illegal fishing offences are lodged to the Appropriation-in-Aid of the Department of the Marine Vote. In due course all moneys revert to the Central Fund.

The following table shows the total fines imposed on foreign vessels in the years 1990-95 which amount to £5.079 million.

	£
1990	983,000
1991	1,212,000
1992	1,029,000
1993	880,000
1994	459,000
1995	516,000
Total	5,079,000

It should be noted that in relation to the above table that offences may have occurred in the year previous to that in which fines were imposed and a number of cases relating to alleged fishing offences for 1994 and 1995 are stillsub judice and the outcome of these cases may affect the figures for those years.

It is evident from these figures that our investment in enhanced surveillance capability has led to higher levels of compliance. This is reflected by the fact that while boardings have increased, proportionately, the number of vessels detained has declined. This clearly demonstrates that more and more fishermen are coming to the conclusion that breaking the law is no longer worth the risk.