Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the witnesses for coming. I will start by saying I am shocked that a boat can land from Sweden and take a fine from Sweden, whereas if an Irish boat lands, the fishermen are turned into criminals. That is absolutely shocking. From reading the witnesses' submissions, it is clear that over-the-top regulation is destroying Irish fisheries as we speak. It is amazing that we cannot get that balance right. We are turning fishermen into criminals. It is wrong on so many levels. We have the most punitive and severe penalty system in Europe. It is unfair and unreasonable. As Mr. Murphy said, our fleet has been reduced from 400 to approximately 100. There is no doubt but that amendments to the sea fisheries Act are needed. The SFPA must be reformed. It must be reduced and made answerable to this committee.

My first question is for anyone to answer. It is important for us to get a practical sense of the SFPA's role and its interactions on the ground with the industry. Does the SFPA have a constant presence on piers? What type of inspections or audits is it carrying out? How often is it carrying them out? Do the witnesses find that those inspections are targeted at certain piers and, more importantly, certain vessels? That is for any of the witnesses to answer.