Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures he has introduced to deal with alleged illegal fishing activity on Irish waters or ports; the estimates from his Department for black fish catches in each of the years 2001 to 2005; the percentage of the overall annual fishing turnover in terms of both tonnage and profit carried out in the black economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26632/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Where illegal fishing activity is detected by the Department or the Naval Service, the case is referred to the Attorney General's Office for consideration and appropriate action. Details of all landings known to the Department are reported to the EU Commission, as required by EU legislation.

In relation to wide ranging allegations brought to the attention of the Ministers in the summer of 2004 and subsequent wide ranging allegations, taking account of the matters raised and the potential seriousness of the allegations, the matters were formally referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. Those investigations are solely a matter for An Garda Síochána and I have no role in these investigations. Any findings of illegal landings determined in such investigations and reported to the Department will, in accordance with legal advice, be reported to the EU Commission.

Insofar as fisheries control and surveillance is concerned, the position is that 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 onboard to ensure the proper recording of catches in the EU logbook. The Department's land-based inspectorate also does regular checks of all vessels landing into Irish ports.

In this regard, I wish to stress in particular 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 currently there is a recruitment process 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, the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 recently enacted by the Oireachtas. This legislation is intended to strengthen Ireland's capacity to provide a dissuasive code of deterrents and sanctions to address over-fishing and all illegal fishing activity.