Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The sea-fisheries (amendment) Bill was on the programme for Government but it will not be seen through at this stage. There were some difficulties about it raised with the Attorney General. A court decision was recently taken which essentially throws the enforcement regime in the fishing sector into disarray. On the eve of the general election, there will probably be a vacuum between now and the next Dáil. Will the Department make some effort with the Attorney General to get clarity on the enforcement regime for the sea-fisheries sector? The word is that it will revert to the old Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, which was draconian. The penalty points system which was to be in place has been challenged, leaving the entire sector in confusion as to what enforcement regime will be in place.

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