Vol. 535 No. 4
82 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if a vessel (details supplied) is registered on the Irish fishing register or the European fishing register; the reason it is allowed to display a registration (details supplied) which commences with the letters SO which implies registration on the Irish Fishing Register. [12827/01]
The vessel in question is registered on the general register of Irish ships under the Mercantile Marine Act, 1955. The owner of the vessel has also applied to have the vessel entered on the Irish Register of Fishing Boats and the vessel has been allocated distinguishing letters corresponding to the port of registry and a number in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Registry, Lettering and Numbering of Fishing Boats) Regulations, 1997. The vessel has not been entered on the Register of Fishing Boats or the EU Fishing Fleet Register, pending resolution of certain issues with the European Commission.
