During 2020, the European Commission carried out a series of audits on Ireland and the other Member States in the North Western Waters region in relation to the control, enforcement and inspection of activities relevant to the landing obligation.
The Commission forwarded its draft audit report to Ireland for comment last month. The 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 of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. As Minister, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters such as those raised in the draft report. The SFPA prepared a detailed response to the draft audit report, which has been submitted to the Commission.
The Commission has advised that it expects to follow up with Ireland to identify the most appropriate way to ensure that the issues identified will be effectively resolved.