Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection Operation.

Gerry O'Sullivan

Ceist:

7 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the reason plans to carry out a major fishery protection operation off the Donegal coast on the week ending 12 June 1992 was suddenly cancelled without explanation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

27 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline who make the decision for the Naval Service to mount an operation against illegal fishing and the steps taken leading to any such decisions.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

43 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the reasons a planned patrol by the LE Ciara in waters off the north-west coast to combat illegal drift-netting of salmon was cancelled; if he will confirm by whom the decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Monica Barnes

Ceist:

51 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm who gave the instruction to the Naval Service to redeploy the LE Ciara from a proposed mission to the north-east on 14 June; the reason for issuing such an instruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Madeleine Taylor-Quinn

Ceist:

62 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the circumstances in which an instruction was issued to the Naval Service in Haulbowline on Friday 12 June 1992 to cease preparations for carrying out fishery patrol duties in the north-west on 14 June and the reason for this cancellation.

I propose to take Question Nos. 7, 27, 43, 51 and 62 together.

Under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, members of the Defence Forces, not below the rank of petty officer, are sea fisheries protection officers for the purposes of that Act while serving on board Naval Service ships. Accordingly, they have statutory authority to enforce the law in relation to sea fisheries. Responsibility, however, for inland fisheries, including salmon, rests with the Central Fisheries Board under the Fisheries Act, 1980. In assisting in the implementation of salmon protection measures, the Naval Service do so in the context of rendering aid to the civil authority.

The Naval Service involvement consists of providing a Naval Service coastal patrol vessel, either LE Orla or LE Ciara, in order that the regional fishery board inspector can carry out his task of examining the licences and nets of salmon fishing vessels. A member of the Garda Síochána, not below the rank of sergeant, is also carried on board the Naval vessel to ensure that the inspector is not impeded in the exercise of his duty. If for any reason a regional fishery board inspector is not available, a salmon patrol by the Naval Service cannot take place.

The programme of salmon fishery patrols each year is planned in discussions involving the Department of the Marine, the Central Fisheries Board, the Garda Síochána and the Department of Defence, including the military and Naval authorities. It is accepted by all concerned with the protection programme that patrol plans must remain confidential and flexible. In the event, patrolling commenced on 22 instant and is still continuing.

With regard to sea fishery protection duties, Naval Service personnel, in their capacity as sea fisheries officers, act on priorities specified by the Department of the Marine and, using intelligence gathered and experience gained over the years, plan and execute sea fishery protection patrols on an ongoing basis.

I have to take issue with the Minister. He did not answer my question as on the Order Paper this afternoon, which states very clearly that in the week ending 12 June a major fishing operation was cancelled. Will the Minister explain why an instruction was issued by the Department of Defence to the Naval Service to cancel that patrol? Apparently it came from the Department of the Marine — that is the information I have — yet the Department of the Marine have denied they issued any such request that the patrol be cancelled.

As I stated in my reply, the Department of Defence act in aid — as the Army act in aid of the Garda on the Border area — of the Central Fisheries Board and the Department of the Marine, aided by the Garda sergeant on board the vessel. That is the structure. As I indicated, if the Central Fisheries Board inspector is not available and if a Garda sergeant is not available the patrol cannot take place.

I must ask the Minister a direct question on this. Is he saying the Department of the Marine requested that the patrol be cancelled? My information is that all personnel, such as the Garda, the Central Fisheries Board officer and the Naval Service were prepared to go on that patrol and it was cancelled at the last minute. The Minister for the Marine has indicated that he had no hand or part in it, it was a matter for the Department of Defence. There is confusion somewhere and I want it clarified.

I am not aware of what the Minister for the Marine said on the matter. I understand the Deputy or some other Deputy has a question down to the Minister for the Marine this week on this matter. If he wants to find out what the Minister for the Marine did then the appropriate person to ask the question of is the Minister for the Marine.

(Interruptions.)

We have five questions to dispose of.

I want to ask one brief question. Did the instruction come from the Department of the Marine or was it directly from the Department of Defence?

That question has already been asked. Let us proceed to No. 8.

Barr
Roinn