Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

What triggers an SFPA inspection or invigilation? What proportion of small vessels to big vessels are inspected? It is very easy for supervisory invigilations to catch the small person engaging in minimal offences. According to some of my colleagues here who are quite expert in this area, the larger vessel can escape and do far more damage. Senator Daly is correct in his comments on Brexit and the possibility of inspections and invigilations, protection amendment Bills, voisinageagreements and London agreements and so forth. Has the authority given any consideration to all this? What kind of impact can we expect from the result of the recent Supreme Court case? The legislation, which is currently in abeyance, may well have to be delayed as we wait to see how the situation around Brexit crystalises. It would be premature and foolish to proceed with it when no one knows how Brexit will play out until two or three years down the line. Does the authority need additional resources to ensure the protection of what has been defined in the Supreme Court as a natural resource? Has the authority made a submission to the Government for these resources? They will be needed to protect the Irish fishery base, which is very important around the coast in terms of employment and income-generating capacity.