Vol. 484 No. 4
13 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason his Department does not reveal details of vessel licence transfers and if, in the interest of accountability and transparency, he will reveal details of tonnage which has been replaced or amalgamated since 1989; and the criteria involved in determining the eligibility of the transfer of these licences. [22101/97]
Sea fishing boat licences are not transferable. When a vessel is sold the new owner must apply for a new fishing boat licence. Similarly, a fisherman who replaces his vessel must apply for a new licence in respect of the replacement vessel.
It is one of the requirements of fishing boat licensing policy, reflecting mandatory EU fleet capacity requirements, that a licence may only be granted for the introduction of a new vessel into the fishing fleet where the applicant has first removed tonnage and engine power from the current sea fishing boat register. This must be of at least equal capacity to the tonnage and engine power of the boat to be introduced. A fisherman may, therefore, remove his existing vessel from the register and use the tonnage and horsepower of that vessel to bring a replacement vessel of equivalent size into the fleet. Tonnage and horsepower may also be sold on to another fisherman. The purchaser may then use that capacity to facilitate the introduction of a new fishing vessel into the fleet.
Stated licensing policy requires also that a vessel offered as replacement capacity for a new vessel must come from the segment of the fleet into which the new vessel will enter. For example, where the new entrant to the fleet is introducing a pelagic trawler, the capacity being withdrawn must be from the pelagic sector.
While current licensing procedures and criteria are generally understood by the fishing sector, I intend to publish comprehensive guidelines for the industry on the licensing process, procedures and criteria which will set out all the policy considerations taken into account in the granting of fishing licences. I am fully committed to ensuring there is transparency in licensing policy and procedures and that the industry has confidence in the process.
The Deputy has asked for comprehensive details of the numerous tonnage and horsepower transactions since 1989. This would involve an enormous commitment of staff time and resources. However, apart from the practicalities of delivering this information, the question of commercial and individual confidentiality arises in relation to these data. I am favourably disposed in principle to making register data public and will review the position on availability of the register to ensure the principle of transparency is commensurate with commercial confidentiality concerns. I intend to consult the industry before coming to a final view on this issue.
Last February, the Minister's colleague, Deputy Michael Smith, as Opposition spokesperson on the marine, said he was informed there was considerable confusion and lack of transparency in the area of licensing, and that a much more open and transparent system was needed. A number of criticisms were made at the time. The Minister must be aware there is a great deal of concern about this matter in the fishing industry, particularly in regard to past practices now solely the responsibility of the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. There is a feeling that a cloak of secrecy prevails which is not healthy. That cloak of secrecy has been compounded over the years by the failure of the Department to change. I welcome the fact that the Minister will introduce guidelines. He stated there will be openness and transparency in regard to the issue of salmon licences in the Central Fisheries Board areas but there should also be openness and transparency in regard to sea fishing licences. The register of sea fishing vessels should not gather dust in the Department but should be accessible to people who may want to obtain information in it. I call on the Minister to make that information accessible in the future because——
The Deputy is making a rather long statement. He must ask a supplementary question.
The Minister is doing good work and I would like to see that continue by removing the lack of credibility in the fishing sector with regard to the way the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources currently operates this policy.
I agree there can be misunderstandings in relation to different areas. The Department has done its best to rationalise the position. Changes initiated in Europe create new positions, whereby something that might have applied three years ago can be altered at EU level. Some people may feel aggrieved at the implementation of such a change, particularly if they paid out money in respect of tonnage, part of which may be allowed for other reasons at a future date. This is a developing process. My predecessors would have been keen to reach this point of openness in the sense of having everything on the table in so far as possible. The Deputy mentioned the Minister, Deputy Smith, who, when shadowing the Minister for the Marine in Opposition, calling for transparency and openness.
The Department has not, to date, made the sea fishing boat register available for public inspection. On the basis that individual fishermen have provided information on a confidential basis, details in respect of a particular fishing vessel may be obtained from the mercantile marine register, which is maintained by the local registrars of shipping around the coast. Therefore, details are available up to a certain point. I intend to review the position on the availability of the sea fishing boat register taking account of the principle of transparency and considerations of commercial confidentiality. In conducting that review it will be necessary to have regard to the provisions and requirements of the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act, particularly when dealing with commercial matters. I plan to consult the fishing industry before finalising the criteria and the guidelines on this area and I want as much openness and transparency as possible in this regard.
There is often disagreement about the measurements of boats. An individual may have had a boat measured in Holland, England or Northern Ireland and may get a different measurement here, but there can be good reasons for that. I want to have those set out clearly so that people can in an open and transparent way know what is happening and how a vessel is measured because that aspect causes a good deal of trouble.
Will the Minister indicate a timescale for the completion of the research being undertaken. Will it be completed in one or two years?
I hope it will not take one or two years. I am fairly actively pursuing it at present in respect of some of the aspects and I hope it will not be too long before it will be completed.
As the time for dealing with priority questions has expired, we will deal with Priority Question No. 14 in ordinary time.
