Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her Department is examining the possibility of providing for administrative sanctions against those who are found to be in breach of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006; the reason administrative sanctions were not provided for in the legislation; her views on the establishment of a committee to address the issue of administrative sanctions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13889/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 was enacted on the 4th of April 2006 and provides for dissuasive and effective penalties for infringements of fisheries law as required under the Common Fisheries Policy. During the passage of the Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas, the principles and practicability of administrative sanctions were widely discussed.

On foot of the recent Court of Auditors Report on Fisheries control the Commission is proposing wide-ranging proposals to reform and update the EU Fisheries Control framework and it is likely that the issue of harmonised sanctions will be considered in that light. In the interim I have asked my Department to review the operation of sanctions under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 in light of experience since its enactment.