Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014
138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry did not secure a draft salmon net licence; if the application will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20788/14]
View answer139. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the names of the persons who qualified for salmon draft net licences in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; the criteria used in the assessment of the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20794/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.
The annual allocation of public licences for commercial draft nets is governed by the provisions of the relevant Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, in this case Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No.132 of 2014. The administration of licence allocation is managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in accordance with the criteria set out in the S.I. I am advised by IFI that there are a total of 14 public licences available in the Kerry District for the 2014 Season. The 20 applications received by IFI were categorised and ranked following the methodology and criteria prescribed in the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order.
I understand that the 14 available licences were awarded to the highest ranked applicants in accordance with the established procedures and criteria. The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was not ranked sufficiently under the criteria to enable a licence to issue to him on this occasion. I have arranged for a copy S.I. No.132 of 2014, which sets out the award criteria, to be forwarded to the Deputy. I would be happy to arrange a briefing with IFI for the Deputy on the licence award procedures and process. I understand that the personal details of applicants may be subject to Data Protection legislation and it would not appear appropriate for me to provide that information.
