Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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344. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the definition of the term owned and operated in Northern Ireland in relation to fishing vessels; the way in which is it defined in Irish law; if the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service will take responsibility to ensure foreign vessels are licensed in accordance with EU regulations as adopted by the control authorities for Irish vessels in cases in which foreign vessels are operating in the territorial waters of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40624/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Regarding Northern Ireland fishing boats, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2019. I am advised that terms used within legislation generally derive the meaning from the context within which they are used in the relevant legislation and within the context of the Interpretation Act. During the passage of that Act through the Oireachtas and in response to queries from members of the Houses, I put on record that there is a specific register for Northern Ireland boats.

The matters raised concerning the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service appear to be operational matters for the Authority itself.