Fishing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022

Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Questions (838, 839)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

838. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the agreement entered into between Ireland, France and Belgium in which responsibility for weighing and inspection of all fish landed into Irish ports by French and Belgian-registered fishing boats passed from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to their control agencies; if the the European Commission was involved in either initiating and or overseeing and or consenting to this special arrangement between the Irish, Belgian and French fisheries control authorities; if there is a written agreement in relation to this; and if so, if he will publish the agreement. [28098/22]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

839. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority ensures that vessels fishing under the flag of France or Belgium but which are not under French or Belgian ownership follow the requirements of the agreement of the permitted scheme for landing fish into Irish ports. [28099/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 833 and 839 together.

The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities.  Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.  As Minister, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as this. I have accordingly referred your queries to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.

Question No. 839 answered with Question No. 838.