Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2021
238. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any foreign fishing vessels landing a catch at Irish ports are being facilitated to avoid the weighting of fish at the pier requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32291/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the foreign fishing vessels that have landed fish at Irish piers and have been allowed to bypass the weighting of fish at the pier requirement since the requirement was introduced; the volume and species of fish involved; the name of the pier in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32292/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.
Ireland has received a Commission Implementing Decision revoking the approval of the Irish control plan submitted for the weighing of fishery products in accordance with Article 61(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
It should be noted that the 2012 Control Plan, prior to its revocation, provided that the Irish authorities may have permitted fisheries products to be weighed by relevant operators after transport from the place of landing provided that they were transported to a destination on the territory of Ireland, as the Member State concerned.
I should advise the Deputy that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as those referred to by the Deputy.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries of the SFPA and am advised that all vessels regardless of their nationality are required to weigh on landing prior to transport away from the landing site. There are two common control plans in place with other Member States; France and Belgium. These common control plans allow for fish to be transported to registered establishments prior to weighing in either France or Belgium. This applies to vessels from all Member States landing into Irish ports.
I have referred the Deputy's question requesting further operational details on this matter to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
