Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I am fully committed to supporting Ireland's fishing industry which delivers employment and economic activity to many of the regions where there are few alterative income opportunities. We all want to see a strong and prosperous fishing industry in Ireland.

The Bill proposes a new system of administrative sanctions for fisheries offences. According to Fine Gael, this Bill will establish a much improved enforcement mechanism for less serious fisheries infractions, promote a greater culture of compliance and reduce administrative and other costs for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and fishermen alike.

The Irish sea fisheries sector is almost totally dependent on healthy fish stocks in Ireland's 200 mile exclusive fisheries zone. As the House will be aware, fish stocks in our zone are at historically low levels. It is essential we take whatever measures are necessary to reverse this decline in fish stocks. Unfortunately, this Bill would have the opposite effect.

The Minister of State for fisheries, Deputy Connick, made clear in the Dáil yesterday that he did not believe this Bill would increase fish stocks. He explained it could result in increasing the level of illegal fishing and further drive down fish stocks, leading to a collapse of many of the key commercial stocks around the coast on which our fishing industry relies heavily. He made clear that this Bill could have two possible outcomes, neither of which would protect fish stocks. The first possibility would be that this new Bill could introduce low fines which would do little to deter illegal activity. It could also result in undue attention being paid to minor offences as opposed to channelling the little resources we have into dealing with the major offenders.

There are a number of flaws with the Bill. It would remove the current protections in place in Irish legislation against illegal fishing and could potentially result in illegal landings in Ireland's 200 mile zone.

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