Results 1-16 of 16 for sfpa segment:5878488

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

...waters; and Irish vessels with serious infringements in non-Irish waters. The process begins with the detection of an infringement by a sea-fisheries protection officer, usually an officer of SFPA or the Naval Service. This typically takes place during an inspection at sea or at landing, but might also arise in the context of administrative cross checks, for example fishing logbook data...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Noel Harrington: ...I am not a member of the committee. I welcome Dr. Steele, Mr. Kinneen and Mr. O'Mahony to the meeting. I will commence by making a general point. The sea fishing industry has dealt with the SFPA for some time. It could be acknowledged that they got off to a rocky start but now they share a mutual respect. The industry has respect for the work done by the SFPA and the authority has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: ...regard to what has been presented today. The witnesses stated their priority is to have a system which minimises subjectivity. The implementation of these rules is subjective and it is up to an SFPA officer to decide whether an offence is serious or not. A person's livelihood is determined by the subjectivity of the officer in question. In many areas there has not been a very good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Dr. Susan Steele: SFPA welcomes this broadening of the tools available to us to ensure timely, proportionate outcomes in serious infringements. It is our aim that this tool be applied fairly and to the benefit of the Irish fishing industry. This system will protect the valuable Irish marine resource by stopping repeat offenders. We are conscious of the responsibility this extra tool...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Dr. Susan Steele: I thank everyone for giving us a considered reading of the matter and for their comments. The message from the SFPA is that we understand the hardships in the fishing industry. We understand the difficulties with the weather in recent months and we understand the problems in the industry. In any shared resources it is important to have fair and effective seeking of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Tom Barry: I am not a fisherman, but I understand how sanctions operate in the agricultural industry. Has the SFPA conducted a survey of fishermen to establish their views on the Commission document and whether it is a good idea? If a survey has been conducted, does the SFPA have the results? If not, will it undertake to survey fishermen on it? The regulations must work for ordinary fishermen. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the members of the SFPA for their presentation. Penalty points have become accepted throughout the country with regard to driving offences. It is a concept which people can understand. I agree with much of what Deputy Ferris stated on the difficulties faced by the fishing industry with regard to keeping itself going and people continuing to make a living. I have some concerns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Mr. Andrew Kinneen: Not wishing to unhelpful to the Deputy, the SFPA would be privy to the legal advice. We would be happy to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: As overseers of the SFPA, would we not be entitled to see that legal advice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Thomas Pringle: There are no procedures in place for the SFPA.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Andrew Doyle: ...opinions, but I am not sure whether they want to do so. I seek clarification on the list of 12 offences that are subject to the penalty points system. What power or jurisdiction, if any, has the SFPA currently got over non-Irish vessels found guilty of any of those infractions? What additional information sharing is envisaged upon implementation of the statutory instrument? The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I welcome the members of SFPA. Is it expected that this new system will run concurrently with or in addition to the current criminal sanctions in place? The European Commission wants to move towards a more even system across the EU and this is probably a step in that direction with Ireland going down that road. Ireland is probably one of the only European countries, particularly the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

...chances of promoting compliance and getting people to stick to the regulations will be greatly diminished. Beyond the points appeals mechanism, there is a complaints officer handling the work of the SFPA in the application of its statutory functions. I refer to the section 49 complaints officer. The mechanism is open to any member of the industry who believes we have used the very real...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

...procedures from the criminal court proceedings, if they arise, represents a policy decision made on the best advice from the Office of the Attorney General. It is not something that comes from the SFPA. It is a considered decision. The points stand alone. The skipper and licence holder are regarded as separate and there are obligations within EU regulations that are being implemented...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

...administrative sanctions to fisheries offences. That is a general statement. I understand that it is under consideration as the Chairman has said. What comes to pass will obviously come to the SFPA in our role as a regulator and so on. We have spoken to colleagues in our parent Department on this subject. We have offered examples in other member states where we have seen this type of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (11 Mar 2014)

Mr. Andrew Kinneen: The provision is not only for Irish fishermen but for all European fishermen. Particularly in the context of the SFPA, all people who fish inside the Irish 200-mile limit, regardless of nationality, are covered. Therefore, we have a duty of responsibility to ensure they are complaint with the CFP. The danger of subjectivity and bias was referred to. Subjectivity...