109. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the need to urgently review the relevant parts of Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 that cover the structure and operation of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to ensure a harmonisation of regulation with the rest of the European Union (details supplied). [25830/25]

Sentiment score: 0.15

This question asks the views of the Minister of State, Deputy Timmy Dooley, on the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. The Minister of State will know already from his brief the serious concerns of people in the fishing and seafood industry about the approach of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, in comparison to other regulators across Europe. I want to have an exchange with the Minister of State at this early stage in his new role. Our committee will do likewise in the next month or so.

Sentiment score: 0.02

I shared with the Minister of State my direct eyewitness account of the incredible level of oversight that the SFPA has of the industry. I witnessed in a fish factory in Killybegs CCTV cameras and access to the building at any time. Even that was not enough. I do not know of any industry where there would be cameras literally in the workplace every day, with images going directly from the factory floor to the regulator, and yet that is not enough. We have got to the point where it is out of control. I am reliably informed that this type of approach exists nowhere else in Europe. It impacts on the ability of the industry to attract boats to land and do business. Irish boats are going elsewhere because they do not face the same approach. This has to change. The approach that we have seen is over the top and not justified in any way, shape or form.

Sentiment score: 0.08

The committee met earlier today. We looked at our work plan. We will be bringing in the fishing representative organisations, the Irish Fishing and Seafood Alliance, the National Inshore Fishermen's Organisation and the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, which represents the inshore and islands, in order that they can have their say in how this is being implemented. We will look at how it compares with what obtains in other European states. We need to make sure that we harmonise regulation across Europe and that there is a level playing pitch for all fishermen. As the Minister of State knows, their livelihoods are at stake. The law can criminalise fishermen. If one speaks to fishermen, as I know the Minister of State and many of our TDs do, they are fearful to speak out. They are afraid for their livelihoods. They will tell you in quiet whispers what they have experienced. I compare it with An Garda Síochána. We have all seen examples of great policing, but sometimes there is also bad policing. Bad policing undermines the confidence of the people you are dealing with. Good policing does the opposite. We have to get back to universally consistent, good policing in the State when it comes to our fishermen.

Sentiment score: 0.04