Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2025
317. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sea-fisheries protection inspections (boardings of vessels) undertaken over the past five years, by the country of registration of the vessel, in tabular form. [21912/25]
View answer318. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions brought before the courts by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority over the past five years, by the country of registration of the vessel involved, in tabular form. [21915/25]
View answerThe 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 concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in such operational matters, including those in relation to law enforcement.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's requests to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
