Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue has said he is “committed” to protecting inshore waters for smaller fishing vessels.
Mr McConalogue is currently appealing a recent High Court ruling which overturned a new Government policy directive to protect inshore waters.
The directive to exclude trawling by vessels over 18 metres inside the six-mile nautical limit was declared null and void by a recent High Court ruling after a judicial review challenging its validity was taken by two fishermen.
The ruling found that there had been a breach of fair procedures in relation to consultation.
Mr McConalogue has said this week that the High Court’s ruling has been appealed by the State to the Court of Appeal, with a date of December 11th set for court hearing directions.
The minister said while he could not comment on the matter, he is “committed to delivering the promises made in the Programme for Government that inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and pair trawling be prohibited inside the six-mile limit”.
He was responding to a parliamentary question tabled by Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly.
She had asked him if he intended to conduct a second consultation process on trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone in view of a recent High Court judgement which found that the previous consultation process was defective.
Over 900 submissions were received in response to the original public consultation in December 2018. The directive had allowed a transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat.
This was to “enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone”, Mr McConalogue said.