Vol. 436 No. 6
49 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the decommissioning scheme contained in his proposals for the management and development of the sea fishing fleet complies with the conditions of the EC scheme designed to remove excess capacity in EC fishing fleets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
60 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Marine when he intends to introduce the EC scheme for the decommissioning of trawlers; and likely terms and conditions of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
69 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Marine if the aim of the EC decommissioning scheme is to remove excess capacity from the fleet; if the aim of the Irish proposed decommissioning scheme is to remove old inefficient vessels and replace them with vessels of greater efficiency; and the way in which he intends to reconcile these basic differences.
106 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine if he has satisfied himself that the decommissioning scheme contained in his proposals for the management and development of the sea fishing fleet complies with the conditions of the EC scheme designed to remove excess capacity in EC fishing fleets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 60, 69 and 106 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the proposal to introduce a decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels is one of the elements in the recently circulated discussion document on the management and development of the Irish fleet.
The objective of such a scheme would be to facilitate the removal of excess capacity while providing decommissioning grants to the owners of the vessels removed. Since the proposal forms part of the discussion document, the detailed provisions of such a scheme have yet to be finalised and will be the subject of further discussions with the industry early next year before I take definitive decisions in the matter.
I should also point out that the commission itself is currently in the process of reviewing the community financial framework in relation to decommissioning and it is expected that the relevant regulation will be approved at the December Fisheries Council. The Department will then be in a position to bring forward more detailed proposals in consultation with industry interests.
