Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process, the then Minister announced that vessels over 18 m would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the 6 nautical miles zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels as sprat fishing is concentrated inside the 6 nautical mile zone.

As the Deputy pointed out, that was subject to an appeal by two sprat fishermen. On 6 October, a judge in the Supreme Court held that the court's final order should be that, among other matters, a declaration that policy directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and of no legal effect. The breach of fair procedures referenced related to a failure in the obligation to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process, in particular by failing to consult with them once the preferred option had been identified.

I am currently considering, on an urgent basis, the implications of the judgment in consultation with our legal advisers. I want to also advise the Deputy that I am committed to the sustainability of fishing in Irish waters and the commitment in the programme for Government that inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and pair trawling be prohibited inside the 6 mile limit.

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