Vol. 571 No. 4
368 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of skipper owners with Irish registered boats who have been convicted two or more times for fishery offences over the past five years. [22429/03]
369 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of skippers of Irish registered boats with share owners who have been convicted for fishery offences two or more times over the past five years. [22430/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together.
According to the best information currently available to my Department, which may not be complete, no skipper owners of Irish registered fishing boats have been convicted for fishery offences on more than one occasion over the last five years. These records indicate that four skippers of Irish vessels registered in the name of a company or partnership – other than an individual – were convicted more than once for fisheries offences within the same reference period. The decision to prosecute in respect of alleged fisheries offences is a matter for the Attorney General's office.
