Vol. 386 No. 5
asked the Minister for the Marine the reason he is strictly operating the suggested 3 per cent reductions of total fishing fleet capacity at 1984 tonnage level as proposed in the EC multi-annual programme, when this issue has not yet been finally resolved with the EC.
31.
asked the Minister for the Marine the way in which it is proposed to achieve the withdrawal of up to 200 older sea fishing vessels by 1991.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
The key issue which has not been determined with the EC is the reaching of agreement on the base figure at end of 1984. Given the targets set by the Commission in the multi-annual programme, the range within which the final 1984 figure may fall, and the clear excess capacity in certain segments of the fleet, the option of allowing open-ended new entries into the Irish fleet is no longer available either from an EC or a national perspective.
My concern in the management of the fleet is to ensure particularly where there are quota restrictions that any new entrants will be economically viable and that they will be so without unreasonably displacing other boats remaining in the fleet. As regards segments of the fleet where excess capacity exists, withdrawals of older boats are to be expected in the normal course of events due to economic pressures, age of boat, safety requirements etc. I should stress that one of my main objectives will continue to be to identify new fishing opportunities so that the overall viability of the Irish fleet is pretected and enhanced.
