Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

My question relates to minor promised legislation. At the risk of sounding like Deputy Bernard Durkan and others, I will cite an example. Yesterday at the Cork Circuit Court the master of a vessel pleaded guilty to an offence that most of the community would deem to be a minor administrative transgression. The master suffered a criminal record and a punishment of up to €70,000 for what most would call a technical offence. I have raised this matter before. Legislation is promised on minor fisheries offences to be dealt with by way of administrative sanction. Can that legislation be brought forward as a matter of urgency? I know that no date has been promised. However, fishing and coastal communities are crying out for the introduction of this legislation.

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