Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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936. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the nature of plans to have the Naval Service board any of the factory vessels currently fishing for mackerel off the west coast to check them for compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy, recognising that all vessels landing mackerel at ports here are inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5316/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities.  Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature concerning sea fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service. 

As Minister, I am precluded from getting involved in operational matters including in relation to law enforcement. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy’s query to SFPA for attention and direct reply.