Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
120. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will meet a group of boat owners (details supplied) who want to discuss the need for a change of policy in respect of sub-segmentation of the fishing fleet, and who wrote to him on 12 April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17165/15]
View answerAs Minister I have responsibility for policy in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing under Section 3(3) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 2003, as amended by Section 99 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006. I am precluded from getting involved in individual cases (or group of cases) with which the licensing authority is or may be concerned under Section 3(5) of the 2003 Act.
The request for a change in the licensing policy as set out would have a substantial impact on the Irish fishing fleet. The current policy has been put in place over many years and a change, as requested, would impact many elements of the fishing fleet, not just those making the request.
Where the industry, through the recognised representative structure of Producer Organisations, makes a business case for changes to the licensing policy on the basis of changed circumstance, I would examine any such case.
