State's dedication to fishing policy set for EU discussion

Ireland's commitment to implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will be discussed by EU fisheries commissioner Joe Borg and Minister for Marine Noel Dempsey at a Brussels meeting on Monday, February 20th.

It has emerged that inefficencies within the Minister's department are the subject of the Irish infringement of the CFP which has been referred to the European Court of Justice. There are three other referrals (Britain, France and Italy) for failing to forward catch and fishing efforts to the European Commission. Ireland also faces four infringement proceedings for overfishing.

The failure of department officials to notify catch data/fishing efforts to the commission and unsatisfactory monitoring of technical conservation measures are the subject of two other Irish infringements.
Weaknesses in Ireland's control systems will also be discussed at the meeting. These relate to the failure to monitor catch and landings, the use of satellite vessel monitoring systems, and the level of fines.

The fisheries directorate has repeated it would prefer a system of administrative penalties for fisheries offences, but has said this is a matter for member states to decide.

The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill is at report stage in the Dail. Fishing industry representatives have been lobbying for an administrative system such as that in the majority in member states and in Britain