Pat Cox
Question:67 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of the elements of his discussion document to the fishermen which are to be discussed.
Written Answers. - Sea Fishing Fleet.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:69 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals for restructuring the Irish fishing fleet contained in his Department's recent discussion document; the response, if any, he has received from the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
P. J. Sheehan
Question:77 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine the reason proper discussion and dialogue was not carried out by him with the Irish Fisheries Organisation and the trawler owners before the trawler owners received a registered letter classifying their fishing vessels in respective categories; and if he will give an assurance that he will correct this anomaly by withdrawing this registered letter and proceed with new licensing arrangements with the trawler owners concerned.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:84 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concern on the part of fishermen arising out of the recent discussion document for the Management and Development of the Sea Fishery Fleet, the reason there had been no prior consultation with fishermen; the reason letters allocating categories and areas have already been sent out to fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:98 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the socio-economic objectives of his recent plan regarding management and development of the sea fishing fleet.
Dinny McGinley
Question:144 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine if the restrictions arising from the categorisation of fishing vessels as recently conveyed to boat owners will mean that French and Spanish vessels which are not subject to such restrictions will be placed at a competitive advantage vis-á-vis Irish owners and will deprive Irish owners of their traditional and legal rights.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 69, 77, 84, 98 and 144 together.
It is necessary at this time to review and update the sea fishing fleet management framework in order to develop the Irish fleet to its maximum potential and in particular:
—to bring individual parts of the fleet into line with the stocks targetted by them;
—to meet EC fleet targets;
—to facilitate the entry of modern vessels;
—to secure access to EC Structural Funds, and
—to improve the safety of fishing vessels.
A number of actions are proposed in the discussion document, to advance these objectives:—
—the introduction of a decommissioning scheme;
—the division of the fleet into categories, and
—the development of a new licensing system.
It also entails the taking of steps to regularise the position of small boats operating as part of the Irish fleet but which for various reasons have not been formally registered.
With these objectives and aims in mind and having regard to the major importance of these issues the Department of the Marine released on 28 September last a discussion document. The purpose of this discussion document is to ensure that the fishing industry has every opportunity to assess the implications of these proposals so that the widest possible consultation will take place.
This consultation process is now in full swing. It entails the following:
—a copy of the document has been sent to every registered owner of a fishing boat;
—a detailed briefing has been given to representatives of the major fishing organisations;
—a series of regional meetings which are advertised widely locally in advance at some ten venues has been organised and three of these have already been held;
—written views have been sought on the document through advertisements in the papers, and
—further detailed discussions will be held with fishing organisations when the consultation process is completed.
In addition to the foregoing every registered owner has been advised on a strictly provisional basis of the specific consequences for him or her of the adoption of the categorisation criteria advanced in the discussion document. Each owner has been invited to review the provisional categorisation of his or her boat and given a period of eight weeks to get back to the Department. In the letter, it is explained that the categorisation of a boat is subject to review in light of any appeal made or in the light of developments arising from the public consultation process.
I envisage that this public consultation process will continue for a number of months. When the process is complete, and after discussions with the fishing industry organisation, there will be a full scale review of the proposals advanced in the discussion document with a view to meeting as far as this can be done, all reasonable concerns expressed before finalising the policy early next year.
As regards EC constraints on categorisation, the position is that fleet categories are specified and that fleet management must be in line with these categories. That is not to say that there is total inflexibility in the means employed to implement categorisation and I will be reviewing these means in the light of the outcome of the discussion process.
However, I must emphasise that one of the key objectives of the present categorisation criteria is to ensure that no fishermen will be prevented from continuing with the fishing activity which he or she has practiced in recent years. Moreover, the categories chosen are broad categories and many boats fall into multiple categories.
As regards the position of the fleets of other member states, the fact is that all member states with fishing fleets are required to make reductions in the size of their fleets. On the other hand, following a tough battle with the Commission, including the initiation of an action in the European Court, exceptional treatment was accorded the Irish fleet allowing it to increase its fleet.
Turning to the matter of the introduction of an appeals procedure, I am of the view that the existing process of direct representations to the Department, or Ministers, the Ombudsmans Office and ultimately the Courts are adequate to deal with individual cases where a person may feel aggrieved at individual decisions taken. This is something, however, which I am prepared to keep under review.