Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

——will be in this House in two, three or four years' time criticising the Government for the levels of fines, if the EU pursues us for not having proper sea fisheries control. France has already been fined €20 million by the EU for lack of enforcement and control of sea fisheries —€20 million straight off and €57 million for ongoing offences every six months. I will not expose the taxpayer of this country to that kind of criminality and to the potential of those kinds of fines. I need this legislation. When I meet the Commissioner next Monday week, I need to be able to assure the Commission that tough but fair legislation is in place and will be applied fairly.

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