Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
175. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if she will confirm that the Naval Service fisheries monitoring centre is adequately resourced to perform its responsibilities throughout the Irish EEZ. [38495/26]
View answerThe Naval Service acts as the official agency with responsibility for the operation of Ireland’s Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC). The FMC is located at Naval Base Haulbowline. This responsibility is carried out as part of a Service Level Agreement between the Department of Defence, Naval Service and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA).
The FMC carries out monitoring and surveillance of all vessels equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that are operating in or near to the Irish EEZ and also of all Irish vessels operating in any jurisdiction. The FMC is staffed twenty four hours a day seven days a week by a combination of military and civilian personnel. I am satisfied that the Centre is resourced appropriately to perform it's responsibilities throughout the Irish EEZ.
