Working with Finn-esse
A well-known former garda from Cork has been appointed as an executive member of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA).
Former assistant commissioner of An Garda Síochána Michael Finn had been responsible for policing and security in the Southern Region.
His previous responsibilities also included being part of the Senior Leadership Team and contributing to overall organisational strategy, policing and the delivery of policing and security outcomes.
His appointment to the SFPA was announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, following a competitive recruitment process undertaken through the Public Appointments Service.
Also appointed was Jonathan Hoare who formerly worked as a programme manager with responsibility for co-ordinating and implementing the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan. He also held the position of director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Irish Local Development Network.
Both appointees will work with Paschal Hayes, Executive Chairperson of the SFPA, to ensure the effective regulation of Ireland’s sea-fisheries sector, promoting and encouraging compliance with national and EU sea-fisheries legislation and sea-food safety law.
Mr Hayes said both men will bring a wealth of experience to the authority.
“The SFPA has an ambitious strategy of development underway as part of our work to ensure the continued delivery of an effective, efficient and transparent regulatory framework to underpin Ireland’s vital and valuable sea-fisheries and seafood production sector.”
Mr Hayes added: “I am looking forward to working closely with both Jonathan and Michael on this exciting and ambitious work and to ensure the ongoing sustainability of Ireland’s marine resources for current and future generations.”
The SFPA is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors.
It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200 mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. It operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours.