Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1902. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the landing days and hours for UK and North of Ireland registered fishing vessels landing in designated piers and harbours in this State; and if his attention has been drawn to the danger to small-scale fishermen in particular from limited days and times for landing fish that may force them to fish in poor weather conditions. [20310/22]
View answerI am currently considering the designation of further ports for landings by UK vessels registered in Northern Ireland and I have asked the SFPA to examine the possibility of extended opening hours where feasible. The current ports designated and the opening days and times for those ports 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.
I would also like to assure the Deputy that the designation of ports for landings does not preclude vessels from coming into ports for force majeure reasons such as safe harbour.
