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Fisheries Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

Questions (454)

John Perry

Question:

507 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Defence the reason he stated that Irish fishing vessels are more likely to be in breach of fisheries legislation than foreign vessels when a number of European Commission reports have stated that vessels here make up only 1% of EU infringements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4086/05]

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Written answers

I assume the Deputy is referring to my answer to a parliamentary question on 26 January 2005, concerning the proportion of inspections carried out by the Naval Service while on fishery protection duties which relate to Irish fishing vessels. The statistics on hand demonstrate that Irish fishing vessels inspected by the Naval Service in the Irish patrol area are more likely to be in breach of fisheries legislation than foreign vessels inspected. For example, in 2003, only 44% of vessels boarded and inspected by the Naval Service were Irish. However, 63% of all warnings issued were issued to Irish vessels and 77% of vessels detained were Irish. Similarly, in 2002, 46% of vessels boarded and inspected were Irish. Some 81% of all warnings issued were issued to Irish vessels and 61% of all vessels detained were Irish. Therefore it can be seen that while the percentage of foreign vessels in the patrol area boarded and inspected by the Naval Service was greater than the percentage of Irish vessels so inspected, the percentage of inspections which gave rise to warnings or detentions was significantly higher in the case of Irish vessels.

The European Commission report referred to by the Deputy documents serious infringements of the Common Fisheries Policy as reported by 15 member states and any queries in this regard are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

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