Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
923. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider extending the landing times for UK-registered vessels at some designated ports nationwide from Monday to Friday to seven days a week with regard to the safety of fishers and the limitations of the weather that impacts on their livelihoods. [5054/21]
View answerThere are significant practical and cost implications for the State in the designation of EU ports for Third Country landings as, under EU Regulations, such designations represent an entry point to the European Union following which food is free to circulate within the full EU common market. On this basis for any ports designated, Ireland is obliged to ensure that it has in place a meaningful control presence.
I can assure the Deputy that the opening times for the ports designated were decided to allow for Northern Ireland registered vessels to continue to land into Irish ports, while ensuring that the SFPA has the capacity to continue to perform its vital control functions effectively.
