Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if satellites are used to monitor fishing off the Irish coast. [45840/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) are required under EU Regulation to be fitted on all fishing vessels over 15 metres in overall length operating in EU waters and all EU vessels wherever they operate. The collection and use of the information received through the VMS system for all vessels operating in Ireland's Exclusive Fisheries Zone and Irish vessels operating in other waters is a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), an independent authority, which was established under Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 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 strategic deployment of resources.