Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
939. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional arrangements that will be introduced at piers and harbours around the coast to allow fish landings to be facilitated if a new control plan for fish landings is not approved by the European Commission soon. [51207/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra940. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if in the absence of a new control plan for fish landings not being approved by the European Commission, if a peri plan or interim arrangements will be introduced in order that fish landings can be facilitated under control and to allow for in-factory weighing. [51208/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 939 and 940 together.
Ireland was notified of a Commission Implementing Decision revoking the approval of the Irish control plan submitted for the weighing of fishery products. The European Commission has deemed that Ireland’s obligations arising from Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 were not being met by the Irish control plan as the risk of non-compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy could not be minimised.
The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are 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. As Minister, I am precluded from getting involved in operational control matters such as this.
I understand that the SFPA submitted a Control Plan to the EU Commission for review and approval on 22nd September 2021.
During EU Commissioner Virginius Sinkevicius visit to Killybegs recently, representatives of the fishing industry set out the challenges facing the industry in the absence of a control plan that would allow weighing of fish in factories. I asked the Commissioner, during this visit, to give as much priority as possible to the Commission’s examination of Ireland’s draft control plan given the real challenges currently being faced by the industry.
The queries regarding additional or interim arrangements are considered to be operational control matters for the SFPA. I have accordingly referred the Deputy's queries to SFPA for attention and direct reply.
