Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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102. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason he has not responded to correspondence from the International Transport Federation of 29 March 2018 and 26 April 2018 regarding the trafficking of fishers in the Irish fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22767/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by officials of my Department that the correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been acknowledged and that officials are examining same and a response will issue within the time lines provided.

The Atypical Scheme for Sea Fishers was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet.  A number of Departments are involved in the scheme and it is monitored by an Oversight Committee, chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and  Marine with members from relevant Departments and State Agencies. 

The application process includes the drawing up of a contract which includes, for example, payment of wages in line with the minimum wage, that the medical needs of the employee must be provided for by the employer and when an employment is terminated the employer must repatriate the employee to their home country.

This contract, prepared by a solicitor practising in the State on behalf of the employer, is submitted in the first instance to the Central Depository administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and thereafter an application is made to the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service of my Department for an immigration permission.

Any abuses or otherwise of the employment conditions of any non-EEA National in the Irish fishing industry is a matter for the Workplace Relations Commission, the Marine Survey Office, the Gardaí and other appropriate authorities of the State. 

My Department does not comment on correspondence it receives with third parties but any changes to the Atypical Working Scheme for fishermen will be a matter for the Oversight group to consider in the first instance and would also require the approval of Government.