Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Community Fisheries Control Agency will re-locate to Vigo; the impact the new agency will have on the enforcement of fisheries regulations in Irish waters; if the Sea-Fisheries Control Authority will liaise and coordinate with the new Vigo Fisheries Control Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29068/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) has been established at Vigo since the 1st of July 2008. I am advised that a small staff complement of personnel will be maintained at Brussels for a limited period no later than December 2008 for continuity purposes. The Community Fisheries Control Agency will perform a number of functions. The CFCA will administer fisheries data exchange and provide Member States and the Commission with technical expertise in the field of fisheries data administration along with conducting analysis of this data. The Agency will prepare, adapt and implement Joint Deployment Plans and in this regard liaise with National and International authorities. The operational coordination of Joint Deployment Plans will include operations in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black Sea and NAFO as well as matters associated with the control of IUU fishing.

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority will routinely liaise with the CFCA in support of their work and to participate in a meaningful way in the operations of the CFCA. The SFPA has already been in touch with the CFCA and provided a list of competent Fisheries Inspectors that may be deployed in the role of Community Fisheries Inspectors in the future.