Vol. 462 No. 7
120 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if a certificate of service in fishing vessels will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in view of the fact that he is an experienced fisherman and undertook all the necessary courses in 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5376/96]
Following the introduction by the Department of the Marine (DOM) of the "Fishing Vessel (Certification of Deck Officers and Engineer Officers) Regulations 1988" (S.I. No. 298 of 1988) (which came into force on 1 September 1989) a requirement was imposed whereby certain fishing vessels registered in the State were to be manned by duly certified Deck and Engineering Officers (i.e. be in possession of an appropriate Certificate of Competency (COC) issued under the Regulations).
Those fishermen, however, initially most affected by the introduction of the Regulations were those who did not then hold formal Certificates of Competency but who were employed at that time (1 September 1989) in jobs on seagoing fishing vessels. The Department made arrangements to cater for these experienced but uncertified fishermen whereby they could, without recourse to formal examinations, but chiefly on the basis of their experience, and subject to satisfying certain conditions relating to sea-going experience obtain "Certificates of Service" attesting to that experience which would be regarded as equivalent to Certificate of Competency.
During the period of operation of this arrangement (which lasted upwards of three and a half years) something in excess of 400 certificates of service were issued to eligible applicants.
