Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They have not applied to us either up until now because we still do not have a master's penalty points system. The penalty points system for licence holders has only been in place since last August. Until last August, Ireland was the only member state that did not have a penalty points system for licence holders. As of now, we are the only member state that does not have a penalty point system for masters.

The UK had such a system but the penalty points system only applies to member states. All other fishery control rules and regulations apply to everyone within our waters. Any breaches of regulations at the moment are subject to penalties and potentially prosecutions. That will continue to be the case for non-EU vessels. The penalty points system is an EU-wide Common Fisheries Policy system. It would make more sense if there can be agreement with the UK on a common approach just as there is among other member states. As we know, the UK has left the European Union at this stage. The matter will have to be explored directly with the UK in terms of the potential for that in future. As it stands, it is an EU-wide requirement and will apply to all member state vessels.