Written Answers. - Fisheries Protection.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
45
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
if EU fish conservation policies are sufficient to protect the various species in the Irish Sea and in the Atlantic; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27173/00]
The scientific advice provided to the European Commission in the context of the annual TAC negotiations is firmly based on the precautionary approach.
Stocks of commercial fish species in the Irish Sea and the Atlantic are very heavily exploited and some are under threat. Enhanced conservation measures together with a range of actions are required if the viability of stocks and the fishing sector is to be secured.
At last week's Council of EU Fisheries Ministers I underlined to colleagues the urgent need for radical conservation measures to rebuild and protect whitefish stocks.
With the full support of the Irish fishing industry, I am insisting on comprehensive action to protect juvenile and spawning fish stocks through recovery programmes. In the context of very hard decisions on TACs next month, all member states must shoulder their responsibilities and collectively agree these conservation plans. Having led the way with the Irish Sea Cod Recovery Programme, Ireland will continue to be at the forefront of these initiatives.
Effective monitoring and control is an important key to the protection of fish stocks. I have underlined the need for an EU wide fisheries control regime, which is enforced in an even-handed manner. The viability of the resource and the interests of the Irish fishing fleet depend on compliance by all fishermen with the rules.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
46
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
if fishery and coastguard protection facilities here are on par with services in other EU member states, in view of the extent of the coastline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27174/00]
Land-based surveillance and control of sea fisheries is undertaken primarily by my Department's sea fisheries inspectorate, and control at sea is carried out by the Naval Service and the Air Corps. All of these agencies co-operate closely on an ongoing basis to ensure the most effective deployment and utilisation of the resources and equipment available for sea fisheries protection.
The resources available for land-based sea fisheries protection have improved considerably in recent years, through, for example, the recruitment by my Department of additional sea fisheries officers, and the further augmentation of these resources is in train. The capability for surveillance and control at sea has also been enhanced, by the acquisition of an eighth patrol vessel for the Naval Service.
The resource requirements for effective policing of sea fisheries in future will be kept under review, in light, inter alia, of the overall budgetary position and the financial assistance available from the EU towards the significant costs of this work.
I am always striving to improve the level of coverage available on all Irish coasts to meet growing demands both offshore and onshore and to ensure the coverage continues to meet both national and international requirements for marine search and rescue operations.
Major strides have been made in recent years in bringing the quality of resources, readiness, training and management up to a level in Ireland that is second to none in Europe at present. The Irish Coast Guard, a division of my Department, has contracted two civilian Sikorski S61N search and rescue helicopters, one based in Shannon Airport and the second in Dublin Airport. These helicopters are available on a 24 hour 365 day basis for emergency response on any part of the coastline. The coast guard has 65 full-time staff and more than 600 volunteers. It manages and operates three co-ordination-communication centres at Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia, 12 remote VHF sites, two voice repeater sites and 52 coastal emergency response stations providing shore coverage.
In addition to its own resources, the Irish Coast Guard has a number of declared resources available to it on a 24 hour basis all year round. These include two Air Corps search and rescue helicopters based at Finner and Waterford, the RNLI which has 24 lifeboat stations around the coast and eight community inshore rescue service boats based in strategic locations. It can also call on the Department of Defence naval vessels and divers, the Air Corps fixed wing aircraft, the Garda and their divers and the UK Coastguard and all vessels at sea in a marine emergency situation. In addition, many local volunteer groups, such as sub-aqua clubs, assist in searches and I would like to put on record my appreciation of the work done by all those involved.
We are constantly assessing the case, based on risk assessment by location, for improving resources. We are also undertaking a major programme of re-equipment and refurbishment of facilities available to coast guard volunteers and I can assure the House that I am responding positively in all cases where it is made clear to us that the provision of new facilities and the re-equipment and up-grading of existing facilities will add to our capacity to save lives at sea.
With regard to proposals for future developments, a departmental group modelled on the principles of partnership and consisting of staff, unions and management is assessing the recent IMES expenditure review, including the recommendations concerning a coast guard and will identify the necessary organisational and service delivery changes which might arise with a view to maintaining and enhancing the high quality provision of search and rescue and pollution response in our marine and littoral areas.
Work is in progress on the preparation of legislation, a coast guard Bill which will give the Irish Coast Guard a firm legislative base and statutory duty of responsibility for all activities associated with the discharge of its remit.
My colleague, Deputy Smith, the Minister for Defence, announced on 12 July 2000 the first stage of a process to acquire new medium lift helicopters for the Air Corps. This major investment programme involves the acquisition of two medium lift helicopters, with an option for a third, for search and rescue purposes as well as an option for two medium lift helicopters for general purpose military transport. The acquisition of medium lift helicopters for the Air Corps for search and rescue is a positive indication of the Government's commitment to the Air Corps and is welcomed by the coast guard.
A working group of my Department and the Department of Defence has been set up on the subject of dedicated helicopter search and rescue assets. This group will, in tandem with the current tender competition for the supply of medium lift helicopters to the Air Corps, determine the overall helicopter resources required, civil and military, and the optimum deployment of same to cover the Irish search and rescue region. It will identify and make recommendations on the specific Air Corps resources which will have to be committed and deployed to meet those requirements. It will also consider all options, lease, extension of current contracts etc., for the provision of interim solutions for the overall requirements taking into account the lead time for the delivery of new medium lift helicopters to the Air Corps.
I hope that once a medium load-carrying helicopter is based on the north-west coast, and agreement is reached with the IAA, and the level of increased taskings is assessed and accepted by the declared resources, discussions should commence with the UK to expand the Irish search and rescue region to the north-west to coincide with the Irish pollution responsibility zone, which includes the ocean areas where it is the custom and practice for Irish fishing vessels and the Irish naval vessels to operate.
The Irish Coast Guard helicopter coverage is being upgraded from September 2001 in that from that date the backup helicopter will have the same auto-hover capacity as the other two helicopters.
In recognition of its pollution protection responsibilities, my Department commissioned an Irish emergency towing vessel study which was conducted under the direction of a steering group comprising representatives of the Marine Emergency Advisory Group and was published in January of this year.
Arising from the recommendations of that report, in May of this year I brought proposals to Government that an emergency towing vessel should be deployed for the protection of the coastline and the marine resource and processes from the consequences of major oil pollution and vessel strandings. In addition to agreeing this proposal in principle, the Government also agreed in principle that the marine safety information services should be extended to incorporate the functions of a vessel traffic management information service, as a means of monitoring vessel movements around the coast, and that in consultation with the International Maritime Organisation, the coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway be designated as marine environmental high risk areas and that passing vessels be required to maintain a specified minimum distance from the coast.
The Government also agreed that my Department would, in consultation with the Departments of Finance, Defence and Environment and Local Government assess and identify the most cost effective means by which Ireland would acquire an emergency towing vessel capacity; propose in the light of the above other uses, if any, to which an ETV capacity might be applied; make proposals regarding the positioning of the ETV capacity, and propose the specification, costing, ownership, manning, operation and management, financing etc. of such an ETV capacity, and report to me before end October 2000. On foot of the recommendations made by this group, I intend to bring further proposals to Government shortly. I am striving to improve the level of coverage available on all Irish coasts to ensure it continues to meet EU and international standards.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
47
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
if he has satisfied himself that adequate fishery protection procedures are in place; the plans he has to augment the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27175/00]
Land-based surveillance and control of sea fisheries is undertaken primarily by my Department's sea fisheries inspectorate, and control at sea is carried out by the Naval Service and the Air Corps. All of these agencies co-operate closely on an ongoing basis to ensure the most effective deployment and utilisation of the resources and equipment available for sea fisheries protection.
The resources available for land-based sea fisheries protection have improved considerably in recent years through, for example, the recruitment by my Department of additional sea fisheries officers, and the further augmentation of these resources is in train. The capability for surveillance and control at sea has also been enhanced by the acquisition of an eighth patrol vessel for the Naval Service.
The resource requirements for effective policing of sea fisheries in future will be kept under review, in light, inter alia, of the overall budgetary position and the financial assistance available from the EU towards the significant costs of this work.
