Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2005
144 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if unclaimed tonnage under the lost at sea scheme has been assigned to other fishing vessels; if so, the names of the vessels in question and the names and addresses of the owners of same. [18777/05]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to replacement capacity — tonnage and engine power — which has been granted under the lost at sea scheme but which has not yet been used by successful applicants to license and register a fishing vessel. In the case of two of the six successful applications, the capacity involved has not been availed of yet. The terms of the scheme dictate that capacity granted can only be used by the successful applicants or by an immediate relation of theirs. It is not, therefore, open to any other party to assign it to a vessel. Under current licensing policy, capacity which was off-register on 1 January 2004, and this includes capacity granted under the lost at sea scheme, must be brought back onto the fishing boat register by 31 December 2005, otherwise the entitlement will be lost.
