Austin Deasy
Question:399 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the number of foreign fishing boats which have been confiscated for fishing illegally in Irish waters under section 14 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1994. [12431/97]
Written Answers. - Fishing Vessels Confiscation.
The circumstances in which the courts may order the confiscation of a fishing vessel are set out in section 14 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1994. Such confiscation may arise on conviction for serious breaches of fisheries law. In particular courts may order a vessel to be confiscated on a first conviction if the offence is considered to have been a serious abuse of conservation measures. The courts may also order a boat to be confiscated in respect of a second or subsequent conviction committed on board the same boat within three years of the previous offence subject to detailed rules on continuity of ownership which are laid down in section 14.
It is of course a matter for the courts to determine and impose the penalites available under the law. While confiscation of vessels has been requested by the State and bonds have been required to be lodged in respect of those vessels, the courts have not applied the penalty of confiscation to date.