Michael Ring
Question:267 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a sea-fishing boat licence for a motor fishing vessel. [5642/97]
Written Answers. - Sea-Fishing Boat Licence.
Under European Union fleet policy, member states' fishing fleets are constrained by decisions taken in the context of fleet multi-annual guidance programmes. Against this background, sea-fishing boat licensing policy is designed to maintain strick control on proposed introductions into the fleet.
Under the current licensing policy, licences may only be approved where an applicant proposes to remove capacity from the sea fishing boat register equal to that of the proposed new vessel. Under current licensing policy, only vessels entered on the current sea fishing boat register are acceptable as replacement capacity.
The individual concerned has proposed a vessel as replacement capacity which was never entered on the current sea fishing boat register, and consequently, is not acceptable as replacement capacity. The position was explained to the individual by the Department by letter dated 19 September 1996. To date no reply has been received.
A licence may not be granted to the individual until there is compliance with the licensing policy requirements in relation to the withdrawal of replacement capacity.