Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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536. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that much of the seafood stocked in supermarkets is coming from Thailand, in particular from Samut Sakhon, which is known to use practices commonly termed modern day slavery; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a recent International Labour Organisation report estimated 10,000 migrant children aged 13 to 15 years of age work in the city and another UN agency study found that nearly 60% of Burmese labourers toiling in its seafood processing industry were victims of forced labour. [2850/17]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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537. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that no seafood stocked in supermarkets here from Thailand has been caught or processed using practices commonly termed modern day slavery; the safeguards in place to ensure that consumers are not unwittingly purchasing seafood that was caught or processed using such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2851/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 537 together.

  Decisions on the sourcing of fish or fish products for the retail sector are a matter for the individual enterprises concerned, subject to compliance with the relevant legislation.  Imports of fish and seafood from outside the EU are strictly regulated.

Through the EU’s Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation Ireland is working to ensure that Thailand is fully compliant with all trade of marine fishery products into the EU. The EU Commission has conducted a thorough analysis of the situation and held a series of discussions with Thai authorities since 2011.  Following the conclusion of this process, on 25 April 2015 the European Commission issued Thailand with a ‘yellow card’ warning due to its inadequate fisheries legal framework and poor monitoring, control and traceability systems.  This key instrument in the fight against illegal fishing ensures that only fisheries products that have been certified as legal can access the EU market.  By doing so, the European Commission has initiated a dialogue process with the Thai authorities, with the purpose of identifying the shortcomings and determining corrective measures.

The associated problems of human trafficking and slave labour in Thailand’s fisheries sector are recognised.  While the EU IUU Regulation does not directly address the human trafficking and working conditions on-board fishing vessels, it is intended that improvements in the fisheries control system will also improve the control of labour conditions in the seafood industry. I should also note that several Commission services continue to work on the issues of human trafficking and slave labour in Thailand.  In view of the commitment of the Thai Government to address not only the IUU fishing but also to improve the labour situation, the European Commission is now holding a parallel dialogue on labour and supports the Thai Government with technical assistance programmes aiming at combatting child labour and forced labour in the fisheries and seafood sectors. 

The Thai authorities have given the highest political attention to this matter.  A tailored action plan to address the shortcomings in Thailand’s fishing industry as well as a formal dialogue with the Thai authorities to make them take the necessary corrective measures is currently in place. Progress has been recorded, particularly on the legislative front.  However, the EU Commission has reported that the dialogue is proving difficult and there remain serious concerns about the steps taken by Thailand to fight IUU fishing activities. This means that further action by the Commission cannot be ruled out.

I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that Ireland fully supports the EU approach to date.