Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2017
253. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of Irish vessels that have been fishing within the voisinage area of the coast of Northern Ireland since the Supreme Court judgment of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14533/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supreme Court judgment of 27 October 2016 to which the Deputy refers found that fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within the 0 to 6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State under the Voisinage arrangements is not currently provided for in domestic law. I am seeking to address this lack of provision through the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017 which is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In respect of details of Irish vessels which have been fishing in the Northern Ireland 0 to 6 mile zone, this opportunity continues to be afforded to all registered Irish sea-fishing boats, subject to the same treatment as vessels there, as the arrangements continue to be observed by our Northern counterparts despite our current difficulties in reciprocating. The register of Irish sea-fishing boats is published regularly on my Department's website. The most recent register available showed a total of 2,060 vessels as of the 8th of March 2017.
