Vol. 571 No. 1
756 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to the scheme for licensing of traditional pot fishing boats in the Irish inshore fleet; the number of applications received; and when and the person by whom decisions will be made in relation to the issue of licenses. [20608/03]
The licensing authority, established under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, will decide on the granting of licences in respect of applications received under the scheme for the licensing of traditional pot fishing boats in the Irish inshore fleet. The licensing authority is the Registrar General of Fishing Boats, a statutory position held by a senior official in the Department. I understand that 1,146 licence applications were received by the closing date for the inshore scheme and the applications are at various stages of processing.
An inshore licensing assessment standing committee, comprising representatives of the Department and BIM, has been established to oversee the processing of applications under the scheme, to evaluate compliance with certain conditions of the scheme and to make recommendations to the licensing authority with regard to licensing. I understand that the standing committee is due to meet shortly to assess and make recommendations on an initial batch of applications which are at an advanced stage of processing.
