Dempsey attacks ‘criminal’ trawlermen

A SMALL number of fishermen have been involved in systematic criminal activity and sophisticated scams, the Minister for the Marine claimed yesterday.

Noel Dempsey detailed two cases where “multi-million euro Irish trawlers” turned off or tampered with their electronic systems to fish illegally or bypass quota restrictions. Mr Dempsey disclosed the details during fractious exchanges with opposition TDs in the Dáil and at the backbench committee debating the Sea Fisheries Bill.

Several FF backbenchers have also expressed opposition to the bill. Some 220 amendments to the Bill are being debated by the Committee on Communications and the Marine.