Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
408 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding a shell fish licence for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1185/05]
View answerUnder the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing and registration were transferred from the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the licensing authority for sea-fishing boats which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are considered by the licensing authority for sea-fishing boats. The head of the licensing authority is the registrar general of fishing boats, a senior official in the Department.
The licensing authority has informed me that it issued a letter of licence offer to the individual concerned in respect of his vessel on 20 December 2004. A non-operative licence to facilitate registration of the vessel will issue as soon as the conditions set out in the letter of offer have been complied with. Upon registration of the vessel, an operative sea-fishing boat licence will be issued by the licensing authority.
