Dr. Susan Steele:

That does not come within the remit of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. We would hear about such cases also. I know that the Deputy is referring to a case in which gear was torn through by an anchor. We have come across cases in which people were stealing lobsters from pots, for example. We always say that is a matter for the Garda and the Naval Service. Under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, we look after fisheries only, but we often direct and assist people in helping to make complaints about matters that do not fall within the remit of the authority.

I will go through all of the questions asked. We were asked whether there was an adequate exchange of information on other quotas. We will have to check. As the committee learned earlier, quotas in Ireland are signed per vessel. Other member states have transferable quotas and quotas can be transferred very easily. We have very good relationships with the fisheries monitoring centres and are able to check whether vessels have the quotas for which they are fishing. If there is an issue with this, we can look at it and find out what the position is. I will answer the question about whether we receive enough information by saying it is not automatic.