Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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904. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline all meetings held between his Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, including the dates, attendees and purpose of each meeting in tabular form. [9811/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the ongoing and necessary working relationships, officials at all levels of my Department discuss a range of matters on a regular and routine basis with officials from the three marine agencies; Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and the Marine Institute (MI) in relation to a variety of ongoing issues.

Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction, Act 2006, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is independent in the exercise of its functions. I am precluded from getting involved in any operational control matters. I may give such general policy direction in writing to the Authority in relation to its functions, which must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. However, such directions may not be construed as enabling a Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case or groups of cases with which the Authority is or may be concerned or in relation to the performance in particular circumstances by the Authority of a function assigned to it.Under the Act, the Authority advises me in relation to policy on effective implementation of sea fisheries law and food safety law and provides assistance and information to me in relation to the remit of the Authority.

I am responsible as Minister for corporate governance oversight of the SFPA in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which involves regular meetings from a corporate governance perspective.A list of high level Corporate Governance Oversight meetings which took place between my Department and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority from 2020-22 is attached. In accordance with the responsibilities set down in the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, my Department interacts regularly with the SFPA, including meeting the Authority from time to time on a range of issues and in particular over the period specified in relation to the implementation of the EU /UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement and Ireland's response to the EU Commission's Decision in July 2019 to carry out an Administrative Inquiry under Article 102(2) of the EU Control Regulation 1224/2009.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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905. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the full organisational structure of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency; the number of staff by grade; and if the agency has enough staff and executives to fulfil its role. [9812/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is by statute independent in the exercise of its functions and as Minister I have responsibility for policy formation, resource allocation and corporate governance oversight only.

The request for an organogram providing detail of SFPAs organisational structure and the total staffing by grade are matters for direct response by SFPA and accordingly I have referred these questions for direct response by the SFPA to the Deputy.

SFPA staffing numbers have increased significantly over recent years, from 134 in Quarter 4 of 2019 to 166 today (Quarter 1 2022). The significant increase in SFPA staffing over recent years has been approved to address the additional functions that arose as a result of (i) BREXIT (including export and import certification) and (ii) the serious deficiencies in the Irish fisheries control system which are being pursued under the EU Commission Administrative Inquiry. Significant additional resources have been provided to SFPA in recent years with the SFPA budget allocation for staffing increasing from €12.41m in 2020 to €14.87m in 2022.

As Minister, I am responsible for making appointments to the 3 person SFPA Executive Management Authority. I appointed a new Executive Chairperson/Member to the SFPA Authority on 14 January 2022. There are currently 2 vacancies on the Authority which are due to be advertised shortly by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).