Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
1078. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the reported potential loss of thousands of tonnes of quota that will be deducted from Irish fishers and the loss of millions of euro in EU funding following an EU investigation into the State's application of the Common Fisheries Policy; if he plans to appeal this reported decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9938/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has received the findings of a formal Administrative Inquiry, undertaken by the European Commission to evaluate Ireland’s capacity to apply the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. The findings outlined by Commissioner Sinkevicius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, in a letter to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, deem the Irish control and sanctioning systems as unsatisfactory and has put forward certain specific measures to address the issues identified.
The Administrative Inquiry was carried out by the Commission under Article 102(2) of the 2009 EU Fisheries Control Regulation.
Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, operational issues concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.
I will shortly be commencing a process of engagement with the EU Commission, in association with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority which is responsible for operational matters. In advance of this engagement, I am not in a position to comment on the EU Commission's findings and the package of measures that the Commissioner has set out.
