Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2009
431 Deputy Frank Fahey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the annual cost of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency; the number of persons employed by the agency; the role and responsibility of the agency; the details of similar agencies in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40496/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), an independent authority, was established under Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 on January 1st 2007. The total budget of pay, non-pay and capital for 2009 is €12.026m while the current total number of people working for SFPA is 103.
The principal functions of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority are—
to secure efficient and effective enforcement of sea-fisheries law and food safety law,
to promote compliance with and deter contraventions of sea-fisheries law and food safety law,
to detect contraventions of sea-fisheries law and food safety law,
to provide information to the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors on sea-fisheries law and food safety law and relevant matters within the remit of the Authority, through the Consultative Committee or by any other means it considers appropriate,
to advise the Minister in relation to policy on effective implementation of sea-fisheries law and food safety law: the Minister shall consider any such advice,
to provide assistance and information to the Minister in relation to the remit of the Authority,
to collect and report data in relation to sea-fisheries and food safety as required by the Minister and under Com-munity law,
to represent or assist in the representation of the State at national, Community and international fora as requested by the Minister, and
to engage in any other activities relating to the functions of the Authority as may be approved of by the Minister.
The SFPA performs these roles from a shore base, working with the Irish Naval Service and Air Corps for sea-going patrols and inspections.
With regard to the Deputy's request for details of similar agencies in other EU countries, analogous Fishery Control agencies in other Member States generally lack a role in Food Safety, and sometimes have stronger roles in areas such as licensing and Marine Safety than the SFPA. Consequently, direct comparisons are not always possible.
Information regarding other Member States fisheries Control authorities is available on the following European Commission website and through each member States Government websites.http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/control_enforcement/inspectors_en.htm
