Ireland could lose out on €37m over breach of fisheries regulations, Minister Calleary is warned

Recently-appointed Minister for Agriculture, Dara Calleary, has been warned of the potential financial loss over the fisheries issue. 

A total of €37m in EU funding is at risk of being lost because of the failure of the Government to legislate for a penalty points system for serious breaches of fisheries rules by the masters and owners of Irish-registered vessels.

Briefing documents for the Minister for Agriculture, Dara Calleary, show officials are concerned that Ireland could lose all the available funding from Brussels towards the cost of control and enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy because of delays in introducing a points system required by EU legislation.