Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Broughan mentioned that it would take some time before we would be able to pass regulations or perhaps introduce the system of monitoring to which I and Deputy Eamon Ryan referred. This is not necessarily true. I understand that a regulation could be jointly drafted by the Commission and Council, which would have immediate effect and application.

In respect of Deputy Perry's question, I understand a vessel entering our waters must sign in and notify Irish authorities that it is entering Irish waters. Vessels do so when they are just about to enter Irish waters. A system is in place which indicates the location of foreign vessels in Irish waters every two hours. Upon leaving Irish waters, foreign vessels are obliged to check out.

The Naval Service has the power to board both Irish and foreign vessels in its area of operation. The point made by Deputy Broughan, and possibly by Deputy Eamon Ryan, is that matters are made very difficult for the Naval Service because it is not privy to the information on quotas. I agree the current system is unsatisfactory from the perspective of having real-time information and knowing whether a vessel has breached the law.

More than 2,500 sightings took place in both 2004 and 2005. A total of 1,842 boardings took place in 2004, while just over 2,000 boardings took place in 2005. Of those——

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