Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that SFPA is following up with the Danish authorities and the Commission on that issue. There are good reasons why the Minister's office and the Department are not involved in the hands-on enforcement. This is an operational matter. It is a little similar to the case of An Garda Síochána, where the Minister for Justice and Equality does not, and should not, make operational decisions. There should not be political influence in issues such as this. This is a matter of whether somebody catches what they have a quota to catch, and if they are breaking the rules the appropriate legal action should be taken. Introducing political views, policy or opinions into that type of role would be wrong and would obviously open up the system to undue influence and so forth.