asked the Minister for the Marine if the promised regulations to revise the manning and certification requirements relating to fishing vessels have yet been made; if not, when they will be made; when they are expected to come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Vessel Regulations.
14.
The Fishing Vessels (Certification of Deck Officers and Engineer Officers) Regulations, 1988, were made on 16 November 1988 and will come into force on 1 September 1989.
By way of information I should like to tell the House that the reason for the delay to 1 December 1989 is to ensure that the introduction of these regulations will coincide with the start of the academic year at Greencastle Fishery School and the Regional Technical College in Cork. This will give the surveyors time to examine candidates for certificates. It is also important to inform the House that officials from my Department will be available to brief groups of interested fishermen and this is being arranged at present through the representative bodies.
May I ask the Minister if he would be prepared to circulate the regulations in advance of their coming into effect so that Members of this House might have an opportunity to consider them? Would the Minister consider providing the opportunity for a discussion in this House on these long outstanding and important regulations in regard to safety and other matters in this area?
I appreciate the point made by the Deputy that these regulations have been long outstanding but immediately on assuming office we initiated them. As I said they could be in operation now but for the fact that we do not want to bring them in mid-stream whereby they could be disadvantageous to the students in Greencastle and the RTC. A copy of the regulations will be made available to the Deputy at the earliest possible date.
I should like to take the opportunity of saying that a certificate of service will be equivalent to a certificate of competence. This will allay any fears of traditional fishermen that they may not be in a position or have the time to sit the examination. Their service will be taken into consideration.
Will the Minister indicate the size of vessel which will be covered and whether the requirements of these regulations will reach down to deal with vessels under 40 feet, which the majority of Irish fishing vessels are? Secondly, may I ask the Minister what range of matters will be covered in order to ensure that the vessels will comply with the requirements of the regulations? Will requirements such as life jackets, loading and design of boat be covered? Thirdly, does the Minister envisage the introduction of policing of these regulations once they are introduced within his Department by way of regular, if not annual inspections?
In the unlimited fishing area, a full skipper, two second hand full skippers and tow skippers limited will be required for vessels of 50 metres and over. In the unlimited areas for vessels under 50 metres, it will be one skipper, one second hand or a skipper limited. In the limited areas for vessels of 50 metres and over, it will be one skipper limited, two second hand limited or two second hand special. In the limited area, for vessels of between 24 metres and 50 metres it will be one skipper limited, one second hand limited, or one second hand special. In the limited area, for vessels between 16.5 metres and 24 metres, it will be one second hand special. I would point out that we are referring here to vessels over 16.5 metres.
Where vessels are described by way of kilowatt, for vessels of 3,000 kw registered power or more, the number of qualified engineer officers will be three — a chief engineer officer, class one, a second engineer officer, class two, and a third engineer officer, class three. Then there are vessels of 2,000 kw and of £1,750 kw. This information will be available to the Deputy and to the House. We will police this area as efficiently as possible. Even at this stage it is difficult to examine each individual vessel. It is certainly done when a vessel is being registered or re-registered. Then, the marine surveyors' office will have a look at other boats in the port at that time. As of now, it is impossible to examine each individual boat. I can, however, assure the Deputy that the best policing possible will be carried out.
The question is a factual one, asking when this regulation will be introduced. It will be introduced on 16 November and will come into force on 1 December. The Deputy mentioned lifebelts and other equipment on board vessels. We are at the moment preparing very simple pamphlets and booklets. These will be available not just to skippers but to fishermen. We hope that they will be available to all fishermen and that the skippers will act responsibly, ensuring that all the necessary equipment is on board vessels and that the crew members take due notice of these pamphlets. The pamphlets should not be necessary but we find they are and will make them available.
I take this opportunity to sympathise with Mary, the wife of the late Manus Early who was lost so tragically off Arranmore Island on Saturday morning last. I tender my sympathy to her and her four young children.
I should like to ask a brief supplementary question.
I am sorry, we have dwelt overlong on this question.