Dempsey denies criminalisation of maritime trade

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey insisted on Thursday, February 9th, that a small group of fishermen were involved in criminal activity but dismissed claims that he was criminalising the entire fishing industry.

The dispute over the Sea Fisheries and Marine Jurisdiction Bill was continuing in the Dail on Thursday. Mr Dempsey stated that France had already been fined Eu20 million by the EU for lack of enforcement of sea fisheries.
Mr Dempsey warned that he would not inflict this kind of criminality and the potential of these kinds of fines onto the Irish taxpayer.

He added that he knew fishermen who were taking part in illegal fishing and that there was a need for proper legislation.
Labour's Marine spokesman Tommy Broughan responded by stating that the Minister and his predecessor Minister of State Frank Fahey had made no effort to "introduce a transparent regime or to deal with miscreants", something which the maritime community wanted.

"Nobody condones gross illegality and thievery from the Irish people in fishing by any unscrupulous people and it is fair to say the vast majority of decent fishermen and their families - the 40,000 people in maritime communities - are anxious that there would be a transparent regime," he said.