Legislative Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Questions (1211)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

1211. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe for publishing primary and secondary legislation for a fishing penalty point system in view of the fact that the December 2017 deadline for the previous commitment to introduce legislation has now passed; his plans to bring the legislation for same before the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for scrutiny beforehand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1310/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As the Deputy may be aware, the Supreme Court judgments were delivered on 12th December 2017 in relation to the 2014 SI implementing a points system for licence holders.  My Department is currently examining the implications of the judgments on an urgent basis.

I expect this process to be completed shortly and thereafter I intend to sign a new Statutory instrument to revoke the European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 125 of 2016), which establishes a point system, which will apply to the Licence Holder of a sea-fishing boat when a serious infringement of the Common Fisheries Policy is detected.