Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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283. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to monitor the activities of super trawlers operating in Irish territorial waters, including his views on requiring CCTV monitoring to be installed on such vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14289/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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 a political trilogue level between the EU Council, the EU Commission and the European Parliament.

I am supportive of many of the proposed changes in the Commission proposal that strengthen the EU arrangements for control, inspection and enforcement. 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 continues to engage fully in the negotiation process and continues to be actively involved in the ongoing discussions.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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284. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to work with European counterparts to prohibit the operation of super trawlers operating in the territorial waters of member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14290/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks. Under this policy, EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. Fishing vessels, irrespective of size, must comply with the rules of the CFP, including rules on access and catch limits/quota.

In relation to access to Irish coastal waters, I would point out that all foreign fishing vessels, on the north-west coast, are excluded from Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit purposes. All foreign pelagic fishing vessels are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone on the west coast. Irish fishing vessels greater than or equal to 36.58m (120 feet) in length are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile zone.

Ireland's control authorities, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service, are responsible for the monitoring and control of fishing vessels, including large fishing vessels targeting pelagic stocks, in our Exclusive Fisheries Zone to ensure compliance with the rules of the CFP. 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 SFPA and the Naval Service and I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters.