asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if officials of his Department have access to check the type of fishing gear used by foreign trawlers in order to ensure that serious damage is not being caused by using gear which would prove detrimental to our fishing stocks.

: All fishing vessels operating within the exclusive fishery limits of the State are liable to inspection by the Naval Service and officers of my Department to ensure compliance with the various conservation measures in operation including those relating to types of fishing gear.

: Is the Minister aware that foreign trawlers are using gear damaging to our stocks? It is necessary to have some method of having this checked, and would the Minister accept that our patrol boats and so on are at the moment adequate to have a proper check on the type of gear these boats may be using?

: Perhaps I could clarify the position. Fishing gear used within the fishery limits is checked by naval personnel when the vessels are boarded. The type of gear which may be legally used is specified in regulations. New regulations are pending in relation to the common fisheries policy and furthermore, as the Deputy is aware, there are fines of up to £10,000 on conviction for the use of illegal gear. With that goes the automatic forfeiture of the catch.