Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The revised statutory instrument came in, to the best of my knowledge, on 1 March. Deputy Ferris might be able to confirm that. I am unsure if there would be any prosecutions taken under it. There are some administrative sides to that statutory instrument which have not been put in place by my Department. I am moving to a new system and I intend to replace that statutory instrument. The legal and administrative issues I have raised in my reply relate to whether the new system will be an amendment to that statutory instrument, if it will be a new statutory instrument or if we will proceed by way of primary legislation. All of this is predicated on meeting the EU administrative requirement that the system must be seen as an effective and dissuasive instrument to the fishing community. I have some hurdles to jump yet, but the principle of penalty points only being applied consequent upon a conviction is conceded and is something we are committed to delivering. However, I cannot say whether there have been any convictions or points applied. I suspect not since the introduction of this statutory instrument, which was only signed in March 2016.

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