James Breen
Question:281 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if compensation will be given to the Quilty fishermen whose boats sank in high winds on 1 December 2002. [25526/02]
Written Answers. - Compensation Payments.
I am aware that the recent heavy storms have had an impact on the livelihoods of certain fishermen. Fishing is a highly weather-dependant activity and it is in many respects an occupational hazard that fishing patterns are disturbed by bad weather such as that which has occurred in recent weeks.
There is no specific funding mechanism available to my Department to alleviate financial hardship in the manner suggested. Under EU state aid rules, approval for financial assistance to the fishing industry in whatever form must be obtained from the European Commission. Accordingly, any question of introducing a compensatory measure of this type would fall to be considered within that framework. The European Commission has consistently made it very clear that it is fundamentally opposed to aid packages for any income loss due to periods of bad weather, funded either from EU funds or from national Exchequer funds.
I am not, therefore, in a position to make provision to alleviate financial hardship in this instance. I would expect that private insurance arrangements would in any event have been made to cover such eventualities.
The Government is keenly aware of the difficulties faced by fishermen, particularly those who operate out of smaller inshore boats, as a result of adverse weather conditions. For this reason the fishing assist scheme was introduced in the late 1990s to protect the livelihoods of fishermen during periods when they are unable to fish and have very low incomes. This scheme may be of benefit to certain fishermen affected by the recent storms and I would encourage them to contact the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to establish the possibilities.