Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 27, lines 22 to 28, to delete subsection (4).

We seek the deletion of this subsection on the grounds that anomalies may arise in terms of the powers given to enforcement officers. Subsection (4) states:

A sea-fisheries protection officer when exercising any powers under this section may be accompanied by other persons and may take with him or her, or those persons may take with them, any equipment or materials (including firearms or other weapons (where he or she or any of those other persons is a member of the Defence Forces or the Garda Síochána)) to assist the officer in the exercise of those powers.

It is to be hoped that a case will not arise in which enforcement officers board vessels in an intimidating manner while carrying guns or other weapons. In other industries, are there cases where enforcement officers carry guns when addressing issues with which their Departments are unhappy?

We are in danger of over legislating in the areas of fishing and farming. It could yet transpire that enforcement officers enter the lands of farmers who spread slurry outside a certain period or spread too much phosphorus. Fishermen who work within the law fear that they will be randomly boarded by officials accompanied by gardaí, even where there is no evidence of legal wrongdoing. I too have concerns on the prospect of armed gardaí boarding vessels and would like clarification on the nature of the weapons involved.