Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
679. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capacity of each of the Naval Service patrol vessels (details supplied) to board super trawlers to inspect their catch and methods and ensure their compliance with EU directives and quotas. [24205/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 establishes 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 secure efficient enforcement of sea-fisheries law through support provided by the Defence Forces.
I am advised that the Naval Service is empowered to board and inspect all fishing vessel and their cargoes in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and, when necessary, to formally detain vessels and direct them to port for arrest by An Garda Síochána.
The White Paper on Defence (2015) sets out the equipment agenda for the Defence forces including investment priorities for the Naval Service and for the Air Corps. This will ensure that they retain the capacity to discharge all the roles assigned, including fishery protection. The recent additions to the Naval Service fleet are the LÉ Samuel Beckett, the LÉ James Joyce, the LÉ William Butler Yeats and a further ship of this class is scheduled for delivery in mid 2018.
The Naval Service and the Air Corps will continue to work closely supporting the SFPA in its work to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by any vessel in Irish waters.
