Austin Deasy
Question:19 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the up-to-date position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford for a sea fishing boat licence; and when the licence will issue.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Fishing Boat Licence.
Licences are being issued at present only to those applicants who are replacing active tonnage on the current sea fishing boat register. The person referred to by the Deputy did not indicate any replacement element in his application. My Department wrote to him on 6 June, 1990 inquiring whether a replacement element was associated with the application. As no reply has been received from the applicant my Department are not in a position to process this application any further.
Are we to take it that fishing has become a closed shop in this country and that no new entrants to the fishing industry will be entertained?
No, it is not a closed shop. Arising out of the Common Fisheries Policy, which was determined in 1983, the tonnage for each country of the European Community was assessed at that time and the Commission and the Council came to the conclusion that we were over-supplied with tonnage. An obligation was laid on each member country to reduce the 1983-84 tonnage by 3 per cent per annum. It is within that straitjacket that I have to operate. I have issued licences to people on the register who are replacing tonnage. A new exact register has been prepared for the first time.
Has that register actually been published and made available; we have been promised it for a year?
The register has been completed and sent to Europe. I do not know whether it will be published but I am sure it will be made available to Members of the House and citizens.
In relation to the replacement element in the issuing of a licence, I am aware of a number of applications where this came into play and of proposals to purchase boats with a reduced tonnage other than boats which were being decommissioned, yet licences were not issued in those instances. Would the Minister explain to the House what the position is in relation to those cases?
I would like the Deputy to bring to my attention the individual cases because I see no difficulty whatsoever in granting a licence where there is a tonne per tonne displacement proposal.
One case in Wexford involved a reduction of 40 tonnes, yet no licence was issued.
That is the kind of man or woman I want to meet. I will be glad to get the details because I have no problem with it.