Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the impending requirement that all fish species landed here are weighed at the pier or harbour may be in contravention of EU sanitary requirements in relation to cold chain integrity for chilled or frozen foods; if he will consult with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and Bord Iascaigh Mhara in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30652/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has received a Commission Implementing Decision revoking the approval of the Irish control plan submitted for the weighing of fishery products in accordance with Article 61(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

It should be noted that the 2012 Control Plan, prior to its revocation, provided that the Irish authorities may have permitted fisheries products to be weighed by relevant operators after transport from the place of landing provided that they were transported to a destination on the territory of Ireland, as the Member State concerned.

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 this.

The Deputy’s queries relating to sanitary requirements are a matter for operators, fishers and weighers. The SFPA, as the control authority, are obliged to verify operator compliance with their obligations, and deal with any non-compliances detected.