Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Mr. Moran made a strong case in his opening statement on the billing system stating:

In the period 2010 to 2013 the number of fish landings by foreign vessel at the Fishery Harbour Centres has increased from 1048 in 2010 to 1305 in 2013 while in the same period the number of fish landings by vessels on the Irish sea-fishing boat register has increased from 5086 in 2010 to 5216 in 2013. The total value of fish landed, by Irish and foreign vessels, has increasing sic from €137m to €229m over the same period.

There are many vessels using the ports. There has been under-billing in many cases. A flat informal charge was used instead of the statutory charge. Yesterday I read in the newspaper about a skipper from Rossaveal in Galway landing his catch in Killybegs, another of the centres mentioned here, who has been convicted of under-billing, under-declaring his catch to a considerable degree. A €40,000 penalty was imposed on him.
With all those vessels entering the ports and an inadequate, lax system of billing and of charging dues in the ports, there is potential for the loss of a significant amount of funding due to the State. What mechanisms has the Department put in place to deal with that? What mechanisms does it have in place to ensure that vessels coming into the port carry fish and are not trafficking people or drugs etc., if there is such a lax system for dealing with foreign and Irish vessels?