Michael Ring
Question:743 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will meet with members of the Belmullet sea angling club from County Mayo. [20080/03]
Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
I already met the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers, IFSA, on Tuesday 3 December 2002 to discuss the regulations. Furthermore, the director general of the maritime safety directorate met with representatives of the Belmullet sea angling club in Westport on 25 March 2003 on my behalf. This meeting took place, at the request of the Belmullet sea angling club, before the information seminar being held in Westport on the same day at the request of the Connacht provincial council of the IFSA to explain and publicise the newly introduced passenger boat regulations.
It was explained at that meeting that my primary concern is to enhance safety at sea and on inland waters. The licensing of all passenger boats through their compliance with the new regulations is the best way to ensure the safety of crew and passengers.
I recognise that sea angling festivals are of importance in tourism terms, particularly in peripheral coastal areas. However, I have continually made the point that we cannot build our tourism industry on a poor safety regime. There are long-term benefits to the tourism industry in being able to demonstrate that the highest safety standards are adhered to in sea angling. In this regard it is extremely important that the number of suitable licensed boats for use in competitions is increased. At the meeting on 25 March the Belmullet sea angling club was advised that the Department would consider applications for passenger boat licences in respect of fishing vessels subject to certain criteria, in recognition of the fact that the majority of vessels used historically in sea angling competitions and festivals have been fishing vessels. Furthermore, my Department has also encouraged the IFSA to support an approach involving flexibility in relation to existing licensed passenger boats. In particular, passenger boats licensed to operate in a particular area would be given flexibility to operate in a different area for the purpose of sea angling competitions only.
These measures, together with the acquisition by the industry of new boats meeting the required safety standards, provide the opportunity to increase the number of licensed passenger boats available for use in sea angling competitions and festivals and thereby increase and build on the valuable contribution these events make to local economies.
In view of the circumstances outlined above, in particular the meeting already held between the maritime safety directorate with representatives of Belmullet sea angling club at which my position on safety and the passenger boat regulations was explained, another meeting is unlikely to clarify the position any further.