Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1916. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made towards adding Dunmore East to the list of designated piers and harbours in the State that can facilitate the landing of fishing vessels registered in Northern Ireland considering the presence of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority officials at the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20674/22]
View answerI am currently considering the designation of further ports, including Dunmore East, 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 such as Dunmore East for force majeure reasons such as safe harbour.
