Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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35. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Workplace Relations Commission participated in joint operations with An Garda Síochána focused on the detection of labour exploitation in the fishing industry in 2020 or 2019; if so, the outcome of those inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32145/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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At the outset I should emphasise that the Workplace Relations Commission inspectorate service is independent in its functions.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspectorate contributes to multi-agency efforts to enforce the Atypical Worker Permission Scheme for Non-EEA Workers engaged on certain Irish-registered whitefish fishing vessels which was introduced by the Department of Justice and Equality in February 2016. The WRC liaises with these agencies/organisations, including An Garda Siochana, from time to time and as required in relation to information sharing and other matters. Some 180 fishing vessels come within the scope of the Scheme.

I am advised by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that it participated in one joint, in-port, operation with An Garda Siochana in the period 2019 to 2020 and that the outcome in that case was a referral to the Department of Transport of matters which came with that Department’s responsibility.

Some 454 fisheries inspections have been undertaken by WRC Inspectors since the introduction, in February 2016, of the Atypical Scheme for Non-EEA Workers engaged on certain Irish-registered fishing vessels. Some 323 contraventions have been detected to date by WRC Inspectors.