John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to end an imposition in Killybegs and other major ports whereby no landings can take place between midnight and 8 o'clock in the morning, and restore full landing times which are essential, particularly for the pelagic industry. [8485/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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New EU control requirements for pelagic fisheries were introduced in 2004 to meet concerns of possible illegal fish landings in these fisheries across Europe. Such controls are a key element in fisheries management policy to enable the sustainable management and development of the fisheries concerned.

The requirements created new and more onerous obligations for member states to ensure all landings of pelagic fish over ten tonnes were weighed in the presence of controllers. In implementing the procedures, my Department has acceded to industry requests to allow landings at a variety of ports. The immediate impact of this decision was that some restrictions had to be placed on permitted landing times. To implement this with the available resources, it was necessary to restrict the landing times in the designated pelagic ports. The new controls were extended to the south and east coasts with the inclusion of the Celtic Sea and Irish Sea herring fisheries from 2005.

While it is desirable to provide 24-hour cover for major ports where possible, this has to be balanced by the legal obligations which the State carries to ensure adequate control presence at those ports when open. I recognise the need to augment the Department's seafood control resources to permit longer opening times at key ports. My Department is pursuing a case for the necessary additional resources.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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No landings can take place at Killybegs harbour between midnight and 8 o'clock in the morning. Will the Minister restore full landing times, essential to the pelagic fishing industry? What meetings have taken place on this issue between the Minister and the Killybegs fishermen?

Regarding illegal catches, will he agree that many fisherman in the area are innocent of wrongdoing and are being unfairly punished by these draconian measures? When will the investigation process into illegalities be completed? Will he agree the slow rate of the investigation is endangering the viability of the port? Despite the large level of State and private sector investment in the port, ships are now bypassing it and landing at Peterhead in Scotland.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the difficulties caused by these arrangements. However, it is a question of the number of ports versus the opening hours. If the original decision on the proper control of fisheries was adhered to by the Department, Killybegs would be open on a 24-hour basis. However, the number of ports available for landings would be reduced. The Department is endeavouring to be as fair as possible. It has acceded to the wishes of fishermen, including those in Killybegs, to have more ports covered. However, the hours must be restricted due to limits on personnel numbers. We are trying to address this by getting the extra resources available to have the ports open for longer periods.

The Minister of State has met frequently Killybegs fishermen over the past six months on a variety of issues, although I do not have an exact figure.

Deputy Perry will appreciate I do not want to say too much on the investigations. The Garda must do its job as quickly and efficiently as possible. I accept innocent fishermen are caught up as a result of this. Unfortunately, where rogues operate, the law must be applied. Since this investigation began, there have been three more incidents which saw individuals taken to court. I have no information on when the investigation will be completed. I know the Garda is anxious to pursue the investigation vigorously and bring it to a conclusion soon. However, it has been an extensive investigation.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister realise the difficulties being encountered by many fish processing companies in the area because of these night-time restrictions? Many have had to reduce staff numbers from 1,500 people to 150. This is the major port on the west coast with its large capacity underused. Will the Minister intervene in this case? I accept the need for due process in the Garda investigation but it is a separate issue. Killybegs port is practically shut.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the Deputy's comments on this matter. We are vigorously pursuing the allocation of extra personnel to the port. Most landings were at Killybegs. When it was suggested that we concentrate resources there, for one reason or other, the industry decided it wanted wider coverage. If it was a case that the fishing industry was willing to allow Killybegs, where the majority of fish are landed, to be a designated port, then we would be able to give 24-hour coverage. That is something perhaps the fishermen in Killybegs and the fishing industry generally should take into account. It was to accommodate the industry that landings at four ports other than Killybegs were agreed to. That has stretched resources. We are trying to get the resources to ensure those ports can be adequately covered and that we can give the type of coverage for which they are looking.

A possible compromise would be if we went back to the situation where landings were only allowed to take place in Killybegs. I think I would then be in a position to say to the Deputy that we would be able to give 24-hour coverage and ensure the job losses and the damage being done to the local economy in Killybegs would not continue. So far, we have not got that agreement.