Mr. Tom Moran:

There are some very interesting points and questions there. The billing for harbour services and the counting of fish are two very important aspects of control of fisheries. They are absolutely integrated and linked. The whole EU quota system by which we place such great store is based on accurate counting of fish that is landed and the proper implementation of the quotas. When there are breaches of that it must be, and is, taken very seriously.

The Deputy referred to the recent case reported today in the newspapers. That related to 2003-4. In 2007 the SFPA was set up specifically to control the landing of fish, count the fish and ensure there is nothing over quota or illegally landed, and it is doing its job.

In taking over the fishery harbours we set up a system whereby we could computerise and have seamless transfer of the fish counting mechanism to the harbour charging mechanism. One pays on the basis of one’s landings. In the past that was done manually. We are confident that there is a seamless transfer of that information. The Deputy is absolutely right, this is right from a quota fish-counting point of view when one thinks of the value to local economies and at national level. It is also crucial for revenue raising by the State and the use of these valuable harbours and the services provided in them.

The Deputy asked how we deal with foreign vessels. A separate arrangement applied to them from, I think, 2003.

If a foreign vessel came in and it was a couple of weeks before the actual landing was counted and so on, that boat would be gone and it would be very hard to ensure that the service would be properly paid for, although the fish might be counted. Bills would end up being sent to boats that are here, there and everywhere. The decision was taken back then to apply a flat charge of €250 originally. That was outside the structure of the rates and charges order that was then in place. At the time, it was decided that was a fair, equitable and pragmatic way of dealing with it. When the order was last renewed, this flat charge was incorporated but at a higher rate, in what was again probably a balanced reflection of the cost. The charge has now gone up to €400.

This is at the kernel of fish control and of charging - Deputy Costello is right. The Department and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority pay huge attention to it. As I said, it relates to the counting of fish, which is absolutely fundamental to the operation of the common fisheries policy and particularly to enhancing the value and quantity of landings here. It is also the basis on which we charge for use of the harbours, and these charges go into the fund to develop the harbours and so on. We pay great attention to that and I am pleased that the link between the landings and the charges is seamless because that is the only way that it can be controlled.