Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position with regard to fishing catch returns sent to the European Commission for each of the years from 1998 to 2005; if such returns were sent for each year; the checks which were applied by his Department to ensure that total allowable catches and quotas were observed by the fishing industry for each of these years; his views on media and expert estimates of overfishing during those years; the responsibility which attaches to his Department for this situation; the legal position regarding deterrence and sanctions for overfishing; the outcome he expects in his Department's returns to the European Commission for 2006; the way in which this will compare with the December 2005 agreed total allowable catches and quotas; his plans for a White Paper on the future of fisheries here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13641/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Catch reporting by member states to the Commission consists primarily of six separate reports that are designed to cover a wide range of aspects of fish landings. The reports relate essentially to quota and non-quota species, the nationality of the fleets concerned both from the EU and third countries and also the place of landing. Two of these reports are monthly and four are quarterly.

The most important report in providing data on the main fishing operations of the Irish fishing fleet is a monthly report to the Commission on catches of quota species. This report has been transmitted to the Commission for each of the years outlined in the Deputy's question. For some of the other reports, however, particularly for the early part of the eight-year period concerned, the reporting situation has been less complete, reflecting in particular the greatly increased complexity and scale of the reporting requirement generally under the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, which took place from the 1990s onwards. Due to staffing shortages and the need to develop new technology to respond to this more complex reporting requirement, it did not prove possible to submit all of the various reports for all years. However, the Department recognised that there was a need to secure improved delivery of the necessary reports and it kept the Commission periodically apprised of its plans to secure such improvement.

Such improvement has been secured. This has resulted from, first, advances in staffing terms from a complement of 27 administrative and specialist control staff in 1999 to a planned 101 by early next year. Second, there has also been considerable investment on the installation of new technology in the form of the integrated fisheries information system, IFIS, which embraces all the key information requirements on catches. Through a combination of these two developments in particular, which have involved extensive work over a period of years, Ireland is in position to discharge its reporting obligations. For instance, all 38 catch reports for 2005 were submitted on schedule throughout last year and, in so far as 2006 is concerned, I am confident this satisfactory position for 2005 can be repeated this year and in future years.

In so far as fisheries control and surveillance is concerned, all fishing vessels operating within the Irish fisheries patrol area are subject to checks by Irish control authorities, at sea or in Irish ports. Checks at sea include an inspection or records and catch on board to ensure the proper recording of catches in the EU log book. The Department's land-based inspectorate also conducts regular checks of all vessels landing into Irish ports. Detailed rules and regulations are in place governing the recording of catches of fish stocks and for landings by EU fishing vessels. Misreporting and underreporting of catches is considered a serious infringement of the CFP and there are significant penalties in place for such contraventions. Responsibility for overfishing specified catch limits clearly rests with the individual fishing vessels concerned and such a practice is to be deplored. In this regard, I stress the great importance which Ireland attaches to compliance with the rules of the CFP including the reporting obligations on fishermen.

As part of the drive to increase the effectiveness of fisheries surveillance, major enhancements to national fisheries control and enforcement capabilities have been implemented in recent years and a recruitment process is under way for additional sea-fisheries protection officers. This commitment is also demonstrated by the recent decision to establish an independent body charged with the enforcement of national, EU and international sea-fisheries law. This independent body is an important feature of the new sea fisheries legislation, recently enacted by the Oireachtas. The legislation is intended to strengthen Ireland's capacity to provide a dissuasive code of deterrents and sanctions to address overfishing and all illegal fishing activity. In addition to potential penalties that individual fishermen may face under national law, under the CFP, member states also have a clear legal responsibility to ensure that vessels flying their flag comply with the rules. It is therefore open to the Commission to initiate court action or infringement proceedings against member states in the event of over-fishing occurring or inadequate implementation of the CFP generally. Such proceedings may ultimately lead to fines being imposed directly on member states in the event of a judgment by the European Court of Justice.

In so far as recent overfishing reports in the media and elsewhere is concerned, these are matters, which are the subject of an investigation by the Garda and I do not, therefore, consider it appropriate to comment further in these circumstances. The Government is committed to the development of the sea fisheries industry on a sustainable basis. We are supporting the development of the seafood industry through a number of integrated schemes designed to secure a sustainable future for the industry under the aegis of the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

The two successful fleet renewal programmes and the recent introduction of a decommissioning scheme with a budget of €45 million over the next two years will together deliver the necessary restructuring, renewal and modernisation of the fishing fleet, which is designed to bring a modern, safe and efficient fleet into balance with the available fishing opportunities. The scope for the continued further development of the industry will be determined in the context of the next national plan for the period 2007 to 2013. In this regard, extensive discussions have been held at EU level regarding a new European fisheries fund to apply over that period. The terms of the new European fisheries fund have not been agreed at EU level. The proposal is the main item on the Fisheries Council planned for 25 April 2006. The Minister and I will meet fishing industry representatives in the near future to commence the process of developing a strategy for the fishing industry, which will provide for a long-term sustainable future for the fishing industry and support the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on fishing.