John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies Ferris and Sheehan for raising this very important issue. Ireland has a very important position as custodian of the largest and richest fishing waters within the EU and in our location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Ireland continues to maintain high standards in the enforcement of regulations within the exclusive fisheries zone using the resources of the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. The use of these resources with the addition of satellite monitoring of all fishing vessels, EU and non-EU, allows a high level of monitoring and surveillance of our waters.

The fishing activity of non-Irish fishing vessels within our 200-mile limit is monitored by a combination of maritime air patrols by the Air Corps, simultaneous deployment of several Naval Service patrol vessels within our 200-mile limit and beyond, close monitoring of the position signals from these fishing vessels relayed via satellite to the fisheries monitoring centre at Haulbowline and direct inspections of these fishing vessels by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority when they enter Irish ports to land their fish. The control authorities also co-operate with our neighbouring member states to ensure effective protection of the fisheries in our waters and elsewhere.

Notwithstanding the efforts employed by the Irish control authorities, illegal fishing practices by all fishing fleets in Ireland's exclusive fisheries zone remain a matter of ongoing and substantial concern. Illegal practices militate against the protection of our fisheries resources and their exploitation in a sustainable way into the future. I have worked to strengthen the tools available to our control authorities to monitor activities at sea. Following strong pressure from Ireland, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council agreed a new EU regulation on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activity and on a means of remote sensing of fishing vessels. The new measures oblige fishing vessels to record and submit their logbook by electronic means at least once a day to the control authorities. Coastal member states will have full on-line access in real time to the electronic log book and landing declaration data of all vessels operating in its waters. This measure will substantially strengthen Ireland's controls at sea.

We must ensure that the rules of the common fisheries policy are evenly and properly applied throughout the Union. As Minister with responsibility for fisheries, I have worked to deliver a level playing field on control and this will remain my top priority. The conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks are critical to support and protect fishing communities dependent on fishing around the coast and we must ensure that all fishing vessels fishing in our waters respect the rules.

Regarding prosecutions for illegal activities, it is important to reflect, as I have outlined, the importance of having in place penalties that act as a deterrent to address illegal fishing activity by all fishing vessels operating in our zone. Obviously Deputy Sheehan must have got a tip-off.

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