Vol. 398 No. 8
6 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he is satisfied with the present method of assessing the gross registered tonnage of the Irish fishing fleet; and if his Department are reviewing the situation.
The tonnage of the Irish fishing fleet is measured in accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations, 1984 which distinguish between the length and type of vessel concerned. These provisions are in line with internationally recognised and accepted conventions.
I am aware that concern has been expressed by some Irish fishermen that the practices used in certain other member states may understate their tonnage vis-à vis Ireland and thus put Irish fishermen at a disadvantage.
I am keeping the matter under review to ensure that the system used here is consistent with the best interests of the Irish fishing industry.
The Minister must appreciate that this is extremely unsatisfactory. It appears that other member states have a different method of measuring their gross registered tonnage which is to their great advantage. In some cases they have up to 50 per cent of an advantage over their EC counterparts. What is the position about issuing sea fishing licences? It is my understanding that those licences are not being issued because of the restrictions on the gross registered tonnage. Tonnage is central to the issuing of licences and I should like to ask the Minister what action he is taking to correct this problem for the Irish fishing industry.
The Deputy is injecting new matter into the question by introducing the subject of licences.
The licences relate to the gross registered tonnage of ships.
I would like to repeat that we use an internationally recognised system. Some countries, notably the Scottish authorities, were attempting to use a system which would give them an apparently lower tonnage than the generally recognised system of assessing tonnage. However, I am assured by my chief marine surveyor that the Scottish authorities have taken steps to rectify this anomaly and that we are not, vis-à-vis the Scots who are under the UK flag, at any disadvantage. Linking that matter with licensing, with respect to the Chair, is highly relevant. There is a question about them on the Order Paper. The Deputy should know that we are under strict instructions to reduce our tonnage year by year on the basis of 1984 which was a dubious basis to start with.
I appreciate that but I am sure the Minister recognises the difficulty that the 300 applicants for fishing licences are in. Is the Minister aware of the discontent and anger among those involved in the fishing industry in relation to the imbalance that exists in regard to the gross registered tonnage? I accept the position in regard to the Scots but the same could be said of the Dutch, the Danes and the French. The Minister, as President of the EC Council of Ministers, must adopt a firm line on this issue or we will be left in a difficult position as far as the future of our fishing industry is concerned. We must bear in mind that attempts are being made to introduce young people into the fishing industry.
The Deputy has gone a little wild with her list of countries. There is no such evidence available and I do not know who briefed the Deputy on that. I am fully aware of the position in regard to the licensing system and I have been working on getting the register finalised. The EC regulations demand from us, and other member states, a reduction in the tonnage and we must deliver on that before we get any grants from FEOGA or the fund that succeeded it. I should like to assure the Deputy, and the House, that there is no untoward delay in dealing with this matter. We are confident about the method we have for assessing GRT as of now and that steps have been taken to remove any anomalies.
I should like to put a final supplementary to the Minister.
The Deputy must appreciate that we are dealing with priority questions. There are three questions to be disposed of and time is running out fast. I will permit the Deputy to put one brief supplementary.
Will the Minister agree that a number of member states do not measure the top deck of their boats for the purpose of registering gross registered tonnage?
There is a triple system, and I stand by the facts as I have given them.
