asked the Minister for Transport and Power the conditions under which foreigners may register fishing boats and trawlers of every class in the Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Boat Registration.
13.
Fishing vessels may be registered under the Mercantile Marine Acts only by (a) the Government; (b) a Minister of State; (c) an Irish Citizens; (d) an Irish Body Corporate (which means a body corporate established under and subject to the law of the State and having its principal place of business in the State); (e) citizens or bodies corporate of States which are declared to be reciprocating States by Government Order.
All Irish fishing vessels are required to be registered in the fishing boat register under Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. Fishing vessels in excess of 15 net tons must be registered in both the Irish Shipping Register and the Fishing Boat Register. These registers are open to inspection on payment of a fee of 10s in each case at the General Register Office, 27 Eden Quay, Dublin.
Is the Minister aware that at the moment a foreign trawler is attempting to register at Dunmore East, County Waterford, and will he make a comment on the implications of that?
I understand the Deputy has a question down later to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries on this aspect and I understand that, as far as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are concerned, they are not aware of any such outside infiltration of the Irish fishing industry. However, it is probably more appropriate to the question which the Deputy has put down to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Which question?
A subsequent one.
Which?
Question No. 49.