Vol. 496 No. 1
89 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the role his Department played in the recently negotiated voluntary code to prevent incidents at sea between Irish and French fishing vessels; the steps, if any, he will take to provide a means of redress for Irish vessel owners who have already suffered loss as result of aggressive incidents involving French fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21875/98]
The headings of a code of practice for peaceful co-existence and co-operation between Irish and French fishermen in shared fisheries were agreed at a meeting in Dublin on 9 October last. The meeting, which was hosted by my Department was attended by representatives of Irish and French fishermen as well as the French Fisheries Ministry. This was a continuation of an initiative taken earlier this year at my request to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Irish and French fishermen.
Representatives of Irish and French fishermen will now work together to develop the operational and technical details of the code of practice, with a view to finalising an agreed code by January next in advance of the spring fishery.
A recent incident involving an Irish and a French fishing boat was discussed at the meeting on 9 October, and dialogue has been established between the parties concerned with a view to reaching an equitable resolution. The question of redress in instances of verifiable damage or loss will be pursued with the French authorities as part of the current process of dialogue and co-operation.
