Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the specific work programme of the sea fisheries protection authority; its working and financial relationship with the Navy, Air Corps and Gardaí; the staff compliment of the authority; its working relationship in the area of food safety with BIM and the FSAI; and the names, expertise and salary of each member of the authority including the chairman. [29844/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, provided for the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). This independent authority was established on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions and as such I have no remit as to its work programme or its relationships with other bodies. The act states that the Authority can consist of up to three members. The Board currently consists of two members; Mr Peter Whelan, Executive Chairman and Mr Andrew Kinneen, Board Member. A competition has been held to recruit the third authority member. The successful candidate has been offered a contract of employment.

Details of the current Board Members are as follows:

a.Peter Whelan: Has extensive experience in food safety regulation and in management. During his previous employment with the Health Board and more recently with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), Mr Whelan gained considerable experience and expertise in environmental health. His previous work involved direct inspection work, inter-agency coordination and he acted as Director of service contracts for the FSAI. Mr Whelan's current salary is at Principal Officer (Higher) equivalent.

b.Andrew Kinneen: Has extensive experience in Fisheries and Food Safety regulation and in management. Previous employment experience as a fisherman, as an inspector (Fish Quality Officer and Sea Fishery Officer) with the Department of Marine and with the European Commission as European Fisheries Inspector. He has worked most recently as a Unit Manager with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources before joining the SFPA as a Board Member in accordance with the provisions of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. Mr Kinneen is currently a member of the Administrative Board of the Community Fisheries Control Agency. Mr Kinneen's current salary is at Principal Officer equivalent.

Staffing: The SFPA has a staff complement of 107 posts.