Navy to lose power to fire across fishing boats

[McCarthy]

Irish Examiner Saturday 21st January

The Government is to remove the power of the Navy to fire across the bows of fishing boats, under new amendments to the controversial Sea Fisheries Bill.
The legislation, designed to tackle the problem of over-fishing in Ireland and to amend flaws in the existing act that were identified in two Supreme Court judgments, has proved highly contentious since it was published last year.
Its passage through th Dail has been delayed by opposition parties (with the exception of the Greens, who support it) and Government backbenchers.
One Fianna Fail TD, Cork South West deputy Denis O'Donovan, said he would consider defying the Government whip if it wasn't amended.
Marine Minister Pat 'The Cope" Gallagher announced four amendments to the legislation yesterday. They will:

• Remove the power to fire into boats.
• Remove the power to forfeit a boat when repeat offences occur.
• Graduate fines based on size of vessel.
• Establish a regulatory agency independent of the department, to enforce sea fisheries law.

Mr Gallagher said: "A number of deputies raised concerns regarding some of the contents of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005.
"Having listened carefully to the concerns expressed by the deputies, I decided that a number of amendments should be made"
Mr Gallagher said that the amounts of fines for smaller vessels - an issue that proved very contentious - would be a fifth of the penalty fine levels in the original bill.
The power of the Navy to fire into vessels will revert to its powers under the Defence Acts and will not now be part of the fisheries legislation.
The new authority announced yesterday, will be wholly independent of the Department of Communications. It will be operated by a board of three independent commissioners and will have a board, the members of which will be appointed by the minister.

[California Tanker]

What will they do if they refuse to stop? Use harsh language over the radio?

How about if the fisher tries to ram the warship?

NTM

[FMolloy]

What will they do if they refuse to stop? Use harsh language over the radio?

How about if the fisher tries to ram the warship?

NTM

As has been tried before.

[Goldie fish]

Then you are going into a self defence situation...

[eelmonster]

Isn't this just sensationalism: by my reading, the power to fire across a ship's bow is reverting back to the Defence Act, so if a foreign (or Irish) fishing vessel is suspected of contravening Irish and European law, and attempts to evade capture or repel boarding surely the naval service can take necessary action. I wonder what the Defence Act says. Will check.

[Bam Bam]

prehaps each vessel will now have a red phone hotline back to the dail chambers, and ring each time to request to fire their guns.

[The Sultan]

Sometimes I cry at the stupidity of the people who ruin(I mean...run) our country.

[ODIN]

prehaps each vessel will now have a red phone hotline back to the dail chambers, and ring each time to request to fire their guns.

I hope the cabinet will be available 24/7 and 365 days a year for such a call....

[happenin]

Same ole same ole. Whats next. Taking GPMG's off the army because there too loud. Where does it stop.

[hptmurphy]

I wouldn't worry too much about it as FPVs are faster than trwalers..so ramming is not a major factor.

Any way if any ships captain feels that the safety of his vessel is ultimately at stake.he Still has the right to defend the vessel...as per COD6.. Firing Diectly into ttrwalers has never been an issue...except in one case.

Normaly a few warning shots are good enough to show intent.

The discharging of weapons has become less and less over the years..so I don't think that the legislation was acuatlly required. Given the weapons have only been used defensively..or to re iterate a warning.

Don't worrry about it.Its as I said governed by COD6...so its well legislated for,

[The Sultan]

Ya see, a trawler can now just pretend that his radio isn't working, that it has no look outs posted due to illness, and that its radar is not working..... Therefore unless one of our ships is right in front of it, they can pretend that they didn't know that they couldnt be in our waters. Does that make sense?

[Gasplug]

No, why could they not this before? that kind of crap would not have warranted the bat letting rip, a boarding party would go to the boat.

[andy]

I guess there goes all reason for the navy to have the Otoloro (or whatever its called)

[Vice Admiral]

The authority to fire into granted in the fisheries act wasn't included for the fun of it, surely it was added because a need existed that wasn't addressed by the defence act.

Pat The Cope Gallagher is in very thick with all of his fishing buddies in Donegal and in this he represents the very worst side of Fianna Fail, short sighted, populist, local politics let loose at a national level. By these amendments he demonstrates exactly why he is not fit to be a minister.

In essence, looking after the boys...

[ODIN]

Some of the other parts of the act make sense and are being removed...its stupid really