Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 4

Written Answers. - Flags of Convenience.

Michael Finucane

Question:

38 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress, if any, to date in relation to the key priority of the Government in relation to seeking the banning of flags of convenience fishing vessels from Irish waters; and if it is still a Government priority. [12316/98]

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

40 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to the commitment given in An Action Programme for the Millennium to seek the banning from Irish waters of flags of convenience fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12231/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 40 together.

As I have made clear to the House on numerous occasions, I am giving every priority to mounting, through strict enforcement, an effective ban on the illegal activities of flagships and of all fishing vessels irrespective of nationality in the Irish zone.

Our fisheries protection services at sea and on land are co-operating closely to ensure that flagship activities in these waters are rigorously monitored and controlled. As Deputies are aware there are particular enforcement difficulties associated with the activities of flagships. I have been pressing my UK and Spanish colleagues, who have legal responsibilities in this regard, to fully co-operate with us in intensifying their inspection operations and in ongoing liaison and information exchange. I am pleased to say that this approach is now paying dividends. The recent cases taken in the UK courts which resulted in fines totalling £1 million were underpinned by evidence of illegal fishing by the flagships concerned provided by the Department's Sea Fisheries Inspectorate and the Naval Service to the UK authorities.

This result sends a clear signal that illegal fishing will not be tolerated and that the member states concerned are increasingly prepared to work together to ensure compliance with the rules. At EU level I am continuing to press for greater co-operation across the board and for the Commission itself to take all appropriate action to encourage and oversee this process. The Commission has recently tabled new proposals designed to enhance the fisheries control regime at all points in the chain. In the forthcoming discussions on these proposals, I will be pressing my key objectives of better co-operation, transparency and a level playing field in control in the interests of the Irish fishing industry. The introduction of realtime catch reporting next July for fishing vessels entering and leaving our zone will put the squeeze further on fishing activity by flagships. I have made it a top priority for our fisheries protection services to ensure that the necessary systems and operating arrangements are in place to maximise the effectiveness of the new catch reporting and satellite monitoring regimes.