Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. He will be aware of the engagement I have had with the industry in recent weeks and my commitment to continued engagement with him on the issue. I am looking forward to an opportunity for the committee to address various matters that arise, and I intend to work with the Deputy on that. I will put a few facts on the record first.

The fisheries control regulation provides for a Union fisheries control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level playing field across the EU on fisheries control. The current control regulation entered into force in January 2024 and updates and amends the previous regulation from 2009. The Department is working with the SFPA and relevant Departments and agencies to introduce the required measures to implement the relevant provisions of the updated control regulation at national level. While this may involve amending existing legislation or introducing new legislation, including in respect of certain enforcement measures, it is not envisioned that there will be a review of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 in the manner suggested by the Deputy at this time.

On the accountability of the SFPA, section 48 of the 2006 Act provides for the establishment of an SFPA consultative committee for the purposes of consultations and liaison with the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors and other relevant interests on matters relating to the functions of the authority. In addition, section 68 provides for the accountability of the SFPA to committees of the Oireachtas generally. There is an opportunity to exercise this provision. I am conscious that the consultative committee has a number of vacancies. I intend to address that matter relatively shortly and look forward to the committee engaging with us on it.

An independent review of the organisational capability of the SFPA was completed in April 2020. I will come back to the Deputy in a supplementary reply.

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