Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with Deputy Browne in his question to the Minister. What is a serious infringement? I was talking about the near-ramming incident off Castletownbere earlier this year. Would that be deemed as a penalty point infringement under the laws that stand in other European countries? On several occasions I asked were penalty points applied to the Spanish trawler that day when it was fishing illegally in Irish waters in Castletownbere, and from that day until now, nobody seems to be able to tell me. My worry is we are putting laws in place to make sure the Irish fisherman is kept well under the rule of thumb but there is no rule of thumb when it comes to a foreign vessel illegally fishing here that nearly rams our vessels in Irish waters. The fishermen on that Irish Castletownbere trawler sought help from the authorities at 8 a.m. that day and nobody assisted them. I think there was some arrest made, the next day or the day after.

What are we putting in place here? Are we putting stronger laws on the backs of the Irish fishermen? We certainly will not put a law in place if there is any infringement of a foreign vessel in this country. I have asked the Minister on several occasions here. If he even at least acknowledges it, maybe he would say he cannot give me an answer on that case. Is that deemed a minor infringement? Was that deemed a serious infringement? Was the illegal fishing proven? If it was, were penalty points applied to that trawler? I can see where this amendment Deputy Mac Lochlainn has put forward is leading. There is a need for clarity. Perhaps the Minister could clarify it for us.