Fishing rules enforcement
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn sought urgent examination of a reported failure to enforce fisheries rules equally against a vessel named MFV Afrika.
The Taoiseach will know that, in the Irish fishing community, there is a view that there is one rule for super factory ships and super trawlers and another for inshore and island fishers. A recent incident reported in the Mail on Sunday highlighted the serious failure to enforce Common Fisheries Policy rules in respect of the vessel MFV Afrika on 14 March. I ask that the Taoiseach have this matter examined urgently and to send a clear signal that Common Fisheries Policy applies equally regardless of whether the boat is a super trawler or a vessel from one of our islands.