Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 20: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the new European proposals for multinational inspections of fishing vessels in Irish waters; his views on whether such proposals will improve the management of fishing vessel inspections; the timeframe for the implementation of these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19897/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The proposals to which the Deputy refers relate to the establishment of a Community Fisheries Control Agency. At the EU Fisheries Council in March 2005, final agreement was reached to establish this agency. This agency is the logical progression of the common fisheries policy as it has developed since the early 1980s.

All available scientific information indicates the necessity to support the sustainability of certain fish stocks through conservation and control measures. The emergence of recovery plans for key, high-value fish stocks such as cod has pointed to the need for transparent multinational co-operation in fisheries control activities.

I would like to outline, for the Deputy's information, some of the key functions of the new agency. The main function will be to organise operational co-ordination of fisheries control and inspection activities by member states. It is envisaged that this will be achieved through the development and application of joint deployment plans.

Under these plans, the control resources of a number of different member states may be assigned to control certain fisheries and this may include the use of multinational teams of inspectors.

The best use of Community control resources in such a co-ordinated way will yield greater transparency and will help to ensure that threatened fish stocks will be protected and will recover. It is very important that our fishermen have every confidence that conservation and control is being applied evenly and effectively on all European fleets.

Ireland is fully supportive of the establishment of this agency. We believe it provides an improved capacity to conserve valuable fish stocks for the benefit of all fishermen. Following the Council's agreement, detailed work is now under way to make the agency an operational reality as soon as possible.