Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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514. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the European Commission has stated its intention to initiate infringement proceedings against Ireland and other north western waters member states over their failure to ensure adequate monitoring and control of the landing obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27447/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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During 2020, the European Commission carried out a series of audits on Ireland and the other Member States in the North Western Waters region in relation to the control, enforcement and inspection of activities relevant to the landing obligation.

The Commission forwarded its draft audit report to Ireland for comment last month. 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 are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. As Minister, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as those raised in the draft report. The SFPA prepared a detailed response to the draft audit report, which has been submitted to the Commission.

The Commission has advised that it expects to follow up with Ireland to identify the most appropriate way to ensure that the issues identified will be effectively resolved.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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515. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support the mandatory use of on-board CCTV on all vessels at high risk of non-compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy during the negotiations on the EU Control Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27448/21]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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516. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will object to the proposal by the European Parliament to increase the margin of tolerance for a broad range of EU fisheries which would legalise the underreporting of catches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27449/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.

Council Regulation 1224/2009, known as the Control Regulation, establishes a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level-playing field across the EU on fisheries control. In 2018, the Commission published a proposal to amend the Control Regulation.

Negotiations on the proposal are ongoing at Council Working Party. The Portuguese Presidency had indicated its intention to bring a general approach on the proposal to the Council of Fisheries Ministers in May. However, it is likely that this will now be dealt with at the June Council.

The proposal has also been discussed by the European Parliament. The draft report by the Parliament's Fisheries Committee on the proposal was adopted at the European Parliament plenary in March. The Parliament's position has over 300 proposed amendments to the Commission proposal, including the proposed amendment to the margin of tolerance referred to by the Deputy.

When both the Council and the Parliament have formally adopted their positions, trilateral negotiations will commence involving the EU Council, the European Parliament and the Commission.

I am supportive of many of the proposed changes in the Commission proposal that strengthen the EU arrangements for control, inspection and enforcement. In relation to the margin of tolerance, Ireland is supportive of the Commission's proposal to maintain a limited and necessary margin of tolerance, which is set at 10%. Such margins are required for practical purposes but need to be limited in nature to ensure accurate reporting of catches, which is a core pillar of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Regarding Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) measures such as on-board CCTV, Ireland is supportive of the introduction of a risk-based REM system. As a Coastal Member State, we are seeking access to the data gathered within this system on a near real time basis to support the work of the Naval Service and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. This a critically important tool given the control obligations that Ireland has in respect of all vessels operating in our 200 mile zone.

The Department has been engaged fully in the negotiation process and continues to be actively involved in the ongoing discussion with the Presidency, other Member States and the Commission on the proposal.