Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

According to the Minister, the protocol regarding the fisheries off the Moroccan coast was due to cease in February 2011. Is there any evidence that any part of our fishing fleet or, more importantly, any part of an Irish-registered fishing fleet as distinct from Irish vessels is exploiting those waters without operating within the protocol?

I accept fully that it is a human rights issue. It has been brought to our attention for some time that waters off west Africa, in particular Morocco, have been exploited to the detriment of those countries' peoples. In many of the countries in question, questionable leaders are prepared to sell national resources for their own benefit as distinct from the benefit of the people they are supposed to represent.

Is there evidence of Irish vessels with Irish workers and skippers fishing there or are the boats referred to in the information that has come to us just registered in the Republic of Ireland?

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