Penalty points system for fishermen unconstitutional

The High Court has made formal orders striking down as unconstitutional provisions of a penalty points system for fishermen who engage in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.

Mr Justice Tony O’Connor was told that since he struck down the law in January, the marine minister had replaced regulations covering the penalty points system.

He found the system introduced by the minister does not require that established systems for independent adjudication and recourse to the courts can be ignored.