Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
30. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the preparations being made within the Naval Service to address possible increased fisheries protection requirements post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40073/16]
View answerAre preparations being made within the Naval Service to address possible increased fisheries protection requirements post-Brexit? Will the Minister of State make a statement on the matter?
The Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jursidiction Act 2006 established the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, as the competent authority for securing efficient and effective enforcement of sea fisheries protection legislation and the sustainable exploitation of marine fish resources from the waters around Ireland.
To this end, the SFPA has a service-level agreement with the Department of Defence to ensure efficient enforcement of sea-fisheries law at sea through the support provided by the Naval Service and the Air Corps. In accordance with this agreement, an annual control plan is agreed between the parties that sets out the strategy for achieving sea-fisheries control targets each year. The Naval Service is also responsible for the operation of the fisheries monitoring centre, which is located at the naval base and is operated by the Naval Service on a 24-7 basis.
The consequences of Brexit will depend on the manner in which, and under what circumstances, the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. It is, therefore, premature to anticipate the detailed implications of the UK referendum, including any possible impact on fishery protection requirements, at this stage.
However, the Deputy may be assured that the Department, the Naval Service and the Air Corps will work closely with the SFPA on how any new arrangements are enforced and will liaise closely with the European Fisheries Control Agency and with other member states as appropriate.
The Naval Service and Air Corps are well positioned to meet any new requirements that may emerge, including in their fishery protection roles.
The Deputy will be aware that the Naval Service ship replacement programme has seen the delivery of three new offshore patrols vessels in the past three years with a further ship to be delivered in early 2018. In addition, the White Paper on Defence from 2015 provides that the two Air Corps CASA 235 aircraft, which are tasked with carrying out maritime air patrol surveillance, will be replaced when necessary. These measures will ensure the Naval Service and the Air Corps have the capacity to continue to develop their fishery protection and other important roles in the maritime domain.
The Minister of State is no doubt aware of the recently published House of Lords analysis of Brexit. It has received a lot of attention here because of its call for the continuation of the current open land border between the UK and Ireland, the maintenance of the common travel area, the right of free movement within the UK for Irish and UK citizens and their right to reside and work in both countries.
However, in its hearings, the House of Lords also heard that Brexit is a big prize for the British fishing industry and will enable it to become a world leading seafood exporter like Norway. According to fishing industry leaders, withdrawal from the EU will enable Britain to regain control of its waters after decades of common grazing rights assigned to European neighbours. Mr. Bertie Armstrong said that the flaws in the EU fishing policy had their roots in the politics of joining the European Community in 1973. According to Mr. Armstrong, "Fishing was considered expendable and British waters were given to the EC as part of the accession negotiations. It was a deliberate act but an act of folly. Now we have the opportunity to right it."
Obviously, this could have implications for Ireland and while nobody wants to predict difficulties, we would be foolish not to recognise they may be lying ahead for us. What action has the Minister of State taken since the vote in June? Has he and have the officials from his Department met officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to discuss the implications of what I have just said?
First, I have had bilateral meetings with my counterpart in the UK. There are two Departments involved here, namely, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. As I have outlined, we have a service level agreement with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The agency has set out the number of days it requires the Naval Service and the Air Corps to undertake sea fisheries protection duties.
The Deputy asked if there will be consequences for sea fisheries protection when Britain exits the European Union, but that will form part of the negotiations. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, has had talks on fisheries issues at EU level. As a matter of fact, the last time I was in Brussels, both the Minister and his departmental officials with responsibility for fisheries were also there engaged in talks.
I am not aware of the document to which the Deputy referred but-----
The Minister has exceeded his time. I must exert some control.
-----I assure the Deputy that we are very much on top of this.
The 2015 White Paper highlights the perils of being an island. There are many risks and threats listed in the EU maritime security strategy that are relevant to Ireland's maritime domain, including threats to Ireland's economic resources arising from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or other illegal exploitation of our maritime resources. This has the potential to deplete our fish stocks and destroy maritime habitats. We know that we already have certain difficulties in our waters, including overfishing and illegal fishing. It is understandable that some UK citizens and parliamentarians would view Brexit as a positive development for their fishing industry. We need to get to grips with this and get ahead of the curve because while we might be eyeing the UK's commercial banking industry, they are very much eyeing the fishing industry.
There are many concerns that in post-Brexit Britain there will be a bonfire of regulations. Indeed, members of the Brexit committee in the House of Commons have called on businesses to submit their wish lists. We must be concerned about this.
Does the Minister of State accept that there is a need to protect our fish stocks and maritime habitats and that the Naval Service must beef up its preparations ahead of Brexit?
I would be the first to say that we need to protect our fish stocks. The fishing industry plays a very important role in our economy, especially in coastal communities, including in my own county in places like Kilmore Quay.
I assure the Deputy that whatever the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority requires from the Naval Service and the Air Corps post Brexit will be forthcoming. The Government has invested heavily in the Naval Service in recent years. Such investment was much needed and now we have the most up-to-date vessels-----
We have a lot of near-obsolete vessels too.
Regarding the Air Corps, the CASA 235 aircraft will be replaced in time. The Air Corps also plays a very important role in sea fisheries protection.
