Vol. 480 No. 3
11 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Marine the steps, if any, he intends to take to implement the commitment given in An Action Programme for the Millennium to seek the banning of flags of convenience fishing vessels from Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13955/97]
17 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine the way in which he proposes to seek the banning of flags of convenience fishing vessels from Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13953/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 17 together.
In my earlier reply to the priority question on this matter, I spelled out in detail the threefold strategy I will be pursuing to address the flagship problem. The first component of that strategy is to mount, through rigorous enforcement, an effective ban on the illegal activities of all fishing vessels, irrespective of nationality, in our waters. The second is to press, with the support of the Commission, other member states concerned to play their part in properly controlling and monitoring the activities and landings of flagships. The third is to work with the Commission and likeminded member states in order to ensure the necessary link between the economic benefits of national fish quotas and the coastal communities concerned. I am committed to making tangible progress on this threefold strategy which, I believe, is the key to delivering workable solutions on flagships and their fishing activities.
