A Government plan to set up a special investigative unit and a telephone hotline to monitor offshore fishing activity is fuelling a row over ministerial responsibility for fisheries within Cabinet.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Mary Coughlan is refusing to take responsibility for the fisheries portfolio until a relevant Government order has been signed. Her portfolio before the election in May covered agriculture and food, but not fisheries.
However, it is understood that a row over transfer of responsibilities has been exacerbated by the fact that outgoing communications, marine and natural resources minister Noel Dempsey had signed off on several key marine issues before leaving office in June.
Among these was endorsement of a consultancy review recommending an expanded and "formalised" role for the Garda Síochána in fisheries control.
Inland fisheries, including the new ban on driftnetting for salmon, is also understood to be a bone of contention. Ms Coughlan had indicated that this would be transferred to Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív.
Responsibility for foreshore legislation is unclear, according to several departmental sources. The Foreshore Act, which was being updated before the general election, incorporates such key areas as Corrib gas pipeline consents, marina leases and aquaculture licences.
When contacted yesterday by The Irish Times, Ms Coughlan said she could not comment on the issue. A spokesman for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said it still held "all the responsibilities it had before the general election", which included marine functions.
Ms Coughlan did meet a delegation of fishing industry representatives a month ago, and was also interviewed in her new role by the Irish Skipper magazine. However, a spokesman said she could not speak to The Irish Times on marine issues as no order had been signed.
In the Irish Skipper interview, Ms Coughlan outlined the advantages of linking fisheries and food in her department, and stated she was committed to implementing the Government's €216 million seafood strategy published by Dr Noel Cawley.
Referring to criminal investigations undertaken in several west coast ports over the last three years, the Minister indicated she intended to take a different approach, based on working with the sector. "People want to see an end to these investigations," Ms Coughlan said. "Regardless of the outcome, closure in this matter will help lift the air of doom and gloom and let those in the industry get on with their jobs."
The consultancy study commissioned by Mr Dempsey from a British company, Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd, recommends that a special investigative unit staffed by a "multidisciplinary team" would undertake "targeted operations, strategic intelligence analysis and forensic accounting".
Among 55 recommendations, it says a hotline to receive intelligence on possible illegal fishing activity should be introduced. It also says Irish vessels are 2.3 times more likely to commit an offence than foreign vessels - even though this is based on detention statistics which the Naval Service admits are misleading.
Surveillance of sea fisheries is already far more extensive than that for illegal drugs imports, with 440 Naval Service staff, 10 Air Corps staff and a new Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in Clonakilty, Co Cork, recruiting up to 80 sea fishery officers.
The report also acknowledges that surveillance at sea is far more effective than on land.
Minister of State for the Marine John Browne said he was aware Mr Dempsey intended to sign off on the Poseidon report in June. Mr Dempsey retains responsibility for the marine areas of search and rescue, safety, ports and harbours in his new role as Minister for Transport.
Mr Browne said he had not been given his delegated powers, but a delay of several months would not be unusual in the case of junior ministers.
A Government spokesman said the Cabinet was "still considering technical, legal and other issues around the proposed transfer of responsibilities announced by the Taoiseach on June 14th". It is expected that transfer of functions orders will be made in the autumn.
