Vol. 568 No. 2
58 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the basis for the decision by his Department to allocate 14,000 tons of tonnage to a vessel (details supplied); the quota available to this vessel for catches in Irish waters; and the percentage of that quota which is landed in Irish ports. [16103/03]
The licensing and registration of the vessel referred to was facilitated by a decision of the European Commission early last year to grant additional capacity of 14,055 gross tonnes and 14,400 kilowatts in respect of the Irish pelagic fleet segment, to take account of fishing opportunities in Mauritanian and other west African waters.
The European Commission's decision followed negotiations with the Commission regarding a legitimate application by the company which owns the vessel, under EU legislation in place at that time, which provided for the introduction of additional capacity into the EU fleet where additional fishing opportunities were identified.
The capacity allocated by the European Commission was additional capacity over and above the existing EU capacity limits for the Irish fleet. The allocation of this additional capacity to bring about the licensing and registration of the vessel on the EU fishing boat register involved protracted negotiations between the Irish authorities and the EU Commission. These negotiations were pursued at both political level by the then Minister with responsibility for fisheries and at official level, as is the norm. The then Attorney General was consulted and his officials provided advice on a regular basis throughout the process. The Taoiseach wrote to the President of the Commission, Mr. Prodi, supporting the case made by the Minister to Commissioner Fischler seeking an interim solution in respect of the licensing and registration of the vessel pending formal agreement by the Commission.
As part of the overall agreement the company which owns the vessel has permanently withdrawn its other vessel from the Irish-EU fishing fleet – this vessel was, until the introduction of the new vessel, the largest in the Irish fleet. This represents a significant contribution by the company to resolving the outstanding power over-capacity in the Irish pelagic segment. The Commission's agreement to facilitate the introduction of the vessel referred to in the question was subject to resolution of the over-capacity problem in the pelagic segment.
As part of the overall package, the company retains its annual quota and fishing effort entitlements in EU waters associated with the vessel withdrawn by the company. The company is utilising the vessel referred to in the question to take up these entitlements. The vessel has not landed any of its catch in Irish ports.
The licensing and registration of the vessel is an acknowledgement by the Commission of the legitimate potential of the Irish fishing industry to develop sustainable fishing opportunities at international level. These have traditionally been the preserve of other EU and third country players. I stress that the involvement of Irish and other EU fishing vessels in the fisheries of developing countries must be based on sustainability of the fish stocks in question, as well as of the indigenous communities.
Additional information:I fully agree with the need for close alignment between fisheries policy objectives and development policy aims. In that context a scientist from the Marine Institute of Ireland is participating on a joint EU-Mauritanian scientific committee which is monitoring closely the situation of pelagic stocks.
The company will continue to primarily focus its attention on developing sustainable fishing opportunities outside the EU and positioning itself as a successful player in the international seafood market.
Although two questions were listed, Deputy Ferris is not present and his question falls. This is a six-minute question.
That is unfortunate as I thought we would have more time on this complex issue. The story of the Atlantic Dawn is one of ambition on the part of one person, who is to be admired for that, but there are also complexities involved in how the vessel got a licence in the first place, as anyone who saw “Prime Time” last Thursday will know.
I have three straightforward questions, which are being asked in every fishing port in the country. First, how can the Minister justify one vessel receiving 14,000 geometric tonnes free of charge to facilitate receiving its licence? Every other boat owner, skipper or company enlarging their boats needs to buy the extra tonnage on the open market for approximately €6,000 to €7,000 per tonne. The Atlantic Dawn company receives 14,000 gt free of charge, an asset worth approximately €70 million if one calculates it on the basis of the open market value of tonnage. Fishermen are owed an explanation as to how that can be justified. This massive level of tonnage, 14,000 gross tonnes worth €70 million, was given free of charge to one vessel in the Irish fleet. The vessel catches fish for about 98 days in EU waters but lands no fish here; it spends most of its time off the coast of Africa.
Second, regarding the vessel formerly owned by Atlantic Dawn company, the Veronica, the kilowattage or power of that vessel was transferred across to the Atlantic Dawn to facilitate the issuing of a licence. I understand the logic of that but why was the tonnage not transferred from the Atlantic Dawn to the Veronica?
The Atlantic Dawn has been added to the Irish pelagic fleet under the terms of the Commission decision, which gives Ireland the necessary additional capacity. In this exceptional situation, the normal 100% replacement capacity requirement does not apply. This is similar to the capacity added by the Commission to Ireland's MGP in 1996 and also to that agreed earlier this year regarding the inshore fleet, which will enable a large number of small fishermen to regularise their status without having to find replacement capacity. Neither the Atlantic Dawn nor the Veronica has any entitlement to fish EU whitefish stocks. There is no question of theAtlantic Dawn having carte blanche in fishing EU pelagic entitlements. The vessel will be closely monitored in EU waters and ports. In any event, its primary focus will be to continue to be elsewhere and to fish off west Africa.
Will the Minister of State answer the specific question of how he can justify 14,000 tonnes free of charge for only one vessel when every other vessel and owner in the country must buy tonnage on the open market to facilitate the getting of a licence?
We need a tribunal.
It is a serious issue.
The Deputy mentioned the concern and the television programme.
The "Prime Time" programme did not ask this question.
I have looked at this file, as has the Minister, and I do not have any concerns that the proper procedures were not followed through to EU Commission level. While the Minister of the day and the Taoiseach made certain recommendations, they made them in the national interest. I would like to allay the fears of people in that there was nothing wrong in what happened.
I was not suggesting there was anything wrong.
I do not see any problem with Mr. McHugh, or the Atlantic Dawn, coming on stream in Ireland when one considers the Dutch. If one looks at Mauritanian fishing, there are approximately ten similar, if not larger, Dutch fishing boats in that area. It is important Ireland is up there as well with the considerable fishing boat which Mr. McHugh has. All of the regulations and issues were followed through and approval was given by the EU. That is where the situation lies at present.
