Written answers
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Department of Agriculture and Food
Fisheries Protection
9:00 pm
Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will examine the vital issue of administrative sanctions for minor fishery offences and reform the 2006 fisheries legislation accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19570/08]
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, 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. 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.
Officials of my Department will be consulting with, amongst others, industry representatives, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority itself and the Office of the Attorney-General in the course of their review. This review is ongoing and effort will be made to have it completed by the early autumn. I await the outcome of this review, and will consider its conclusions carefully. It is important to note that administrative fines for fisheries offences could be introduced in Ireland if such were a requirement under European law. I am supportive of any proposals that may be brought forward by the commission in this regard.
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