Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Naval Service has the equipment to enable it to carry out satellite monitoring of fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17135/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Naval Service, supported by the Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft, provides Ireland with a very effective fisheries protection service in accordance with our EU obligations and the requirements of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which has primary policy responsibility in this area.

EU Regulation No. 1489/1997 introduced satellite-based vessel monitoring systems, VMSs, for fishing vessels in the European Union from 1 January 2000. Another European Union regulation, No. 2244/2003, effective from 1 January 2005, further increased the range of fishing vessels that must comply with VMS regulations to all vessels over 15 m. Each member state has been tasked with operating a national fisheries monitoring centre, FMC, to carry out the monitoring of activity by such vessels.

In Ireland, the Naval Service was tasked with this function and the Irish FMC is operated from the naval base at Haulbowline. This centre is manned on a 24-hour basis, 365 days per annum, and is provided with the necessary equipment to monitor the activities of all EU fishing vessels in the Irish 200 nautical mile fishery zone and also Irish vessels operating on a worldwide basis.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Naval Service has a satellite system, the LIRSAT system, which it is operating on a pilot basis to assist in the monitoring of vessels. Is this correct and are there plans to extend it?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We had to introduce the system in response to two EU regulations. We have the satellite equipment on-shore to locate all EU vessels entering the Irish 200 nautical mile fishery zone and also to locate Irish vessels anywhere in the world. Those vessels carry an instrument which I believe is called a transponder.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Vessels over 15 m.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. That system has been put in place. I understand from talking to the relevant officials in the Department that there were some teething difficulties. However, we have gone way beyond the pilot stage and the system is in full operation and working well.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Is it the case that fishing vessels over 15 m must have the transponder according to the EU regulation? If the Minister cannot clarify this, it is understandable.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Should all vessels not have the system installed if they have not done so already? If not, could the Minister not go back to his counterparts in the European Union with a view to monitoring those vessels bringing illegal shipments of drugs into the country?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know the position. I believe the system applies only to vessels over 15 m because these are the vessels covered by the regulations. I will talk to my officials about Deputy Timmins's last point.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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To what extent is the system capable of catching, by way of satellite or the transponder system, vessels bringing illicit goods into the country, as mentioned by Deputy Timmins, and foreign and Irish fishing vessels landing illegal catches?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The system applies to vessels over 15 m. Two EU regulations, dating from 1997 and 2003, apply. The latter increased the range of fishing vessels that must comply with VMS regulations to all vessels over 15 m from 1 January 2005. I will check the position on smaller vessels and write to Deputy Costello in response.