Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

I will welcome Members making telling contributions in the debate on this Bill.

It is also worth noting the EU report on behaviour which seriously infringes the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy in Ireland. Ireland did not supply any figures for the 2003 report and having looked at the 2002 report, I can see why. The previous speaker referred to the average fines in Ireland and the average fines in Europe. The fact that the fines in Ireland are a multiple of those in Europe speaks volumes for our attitude to this industry. Nonetheless, despite the fact that our fines are so much higher than those imposed in Europe, this Bill proposes to increase them even further. The fine for the use of illegal nets, for example, is being increased from €63,000 to €100,000, the fine for contravention of quota notices is being increased from €25,000 to €35,000, and the fine for fishing in contravention of licences is being increased from €12,000 to up to €100,000.

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