Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 6

Written Answers. - Fishing Prosecutions.

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

119 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine the number of prosecutions initiated over the last five years by each of the regional fishery boards; the number of such prosecutions withdrawn prior to going to court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7095/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Coveney)

The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table:

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	TOTAL90-94
	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
Northern	91	0	56	0	62	0	49	0	46	0	304	0
Southern	108	6	68	6	90	12	67	10	80	0	413	34
Eastern	85	0	77	0	77	0	64	0	52	0	355	0
Western	39	0	20	0	27	0	28	0	20	0	134	0
North Western	120	0	86	0	70	0	46	0	19	0	341	0
South Western	123	4	109	6	56	9	50	7	136	4	474	30
Shannon	91	3	53	0	103	1	87	4	47	0	381	8
Total	657	13	469	12	485	22	391	21	400	4	2402	72

A = Number of prosecutions initiated

B = Number of such prosecutions withdrawn prior to going to Court.

The detection of offences and the prosecution of suspected offenders is a matter solely for the fisheries board within whose region the alleged offence is committed. In so far as prosecutions withdrawn prior to going to court are concerned I understand that in all cases these decisions were taken by the regional fisheries boards concerned on foot of legal advice.