Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

We should not delude ourselves that it is not happening; we realise it is. We are in contact with the Naval Service and the Air Corps to try to monitor the situation and take action on it.

Deputy Broughan spoke again at length to make a strong case for the administrative system. He talked a lot about some administrative systems and fines we have here. He also spoke about financial services and traffic offences. On Committee Stage, I pointed out to the Deputy that all the examples he gave — he did not provide any new ones today — dealt with institutions that are situated and licensed in the State. I would not fancy the Naval Service's chances of slapping a ticket on a Dutch fish factory vessel ten, 15 or 20 miles off the coast. It is important to compare like with like. The examples the Deputy quoted are in no way the same as what we are trying to deal with here. We are talking about foreign vessels that are registered and licensed in foreign countries.

I am somewhat amused that in one breath Deputy Perry accused me of not listening, while two minutes later he criticised me for tabling 100 amendments to the Bill. He cannot have it both ways. Either I did not listen or I should be commended for the fact that I listened and put down 100 amendments.

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