Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

As those judgments have significantly undermined the current framework, it is critically important that this Bill is progressed through the Houses as quickly as possible. The Browne v. Attorney General and Kennedy v. Attorney General Supreme Court judgments found that section 223A of the Act, used to implement EU regulations, was not appropriate. Accordingly it has been necessary to rely heavily on the use of section 224B of the Act. This section is limited to fishing activities inside Ireland's exclusive fishery zone and does not allow for summary proceedings in the District Court. There is a great deal of uncertainty how to proceed under the current Act. That is why the Bill has been introduced. It is necessary to address that situation, to introduce the new provisions which take account of the realities and to try to control illegal fishing activity.

The new regime in place since 2002, the Common Fisheries Policy, means that the legal framework must cover fishing activity wherever it occurs, including having a strong dissuasive system for activities on land where they support persons on shore who gain financially from illegal catching and landing of fish by fishing vessels. Delays in introducing dissuasive and deterrent policies leave fisheries open to rape and pillage and leave Irish taxpayers exposed to heavy fines. It is my duty and that of all Members of the House to try to protect the interests of the State and to avoid ordinary taxpayers being burdened with extensive fines owing to deliberate and well planned breaches of fisheries law.

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