asked the Minister for Fisheries if he is aware that because of shortage of fish stocks some boat purchasers are having difficulty in meeting repayments to BIM; and if, in the circumstances, he will arrange extended repayment periods together with additional subsidies for all purchasers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Boat Purchase Repayments.
24.
I am aware that some fishing boat purchasers are in arrears with their loan repayments but it is not possible to generalise as to the reasons for this and in fact the overall repayments position at present is better than it was a year ago. I do not, therefore, consider that special measures as suggested by the Deputy are necessary.
I apologise because the question is not phrased as well as it might have been. There was a shortage of fish stocks some years ago and, as a result of that over a period, a number of trawler skippers had difficulty making repayments. Would the Minister not consider extending the repayment period on the same basis as he outlined earlier today in relation to the purchase of new boats over 65 feet? This would be welcomed by the fishing industry. The Minister must be aware that there are a number of skippers in difficulty and that court proceedings have already been taken in respect of a number of them.
In recent months, due to the herring ban on the west coast which I negotiated at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers, there has been the best herring fishing for years off that coast. The repayments position has improved dramatically since the Deputy put down his question. The position now is far better than it was a year ago. I agree there are fishermen in some areas who are experiencing difficulties, and we look at each case in a reasonable way. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara never apply pressure and I take a personal interest in ensuring that this practice is continued.
How many fishermen are under threat of repossession of their boats at the moment?
That is a separate question. I do not have the facts at hand, but I can get them for the Deputy. I know there are very few cases where the board, by exercising judicious pressures and without going to the lengths suggested by the Deputy, have managed to get the repayments to the position where they are better than they were a year ago.
Would the Minister give an assurance that the fishermen who are under threat of repossession will be given a reasonable amount of time and a certain amount of leniency to enable them to catch up?
That is always given. Over the years the number of cases in which the board have gone the whole way to repossess a boat have been very few.
Is the Minister aware that there is concern along the sea-board among the fishing community as to threats in this regard?
I appreciate this, but a responsible State board must seek to get their repayments; they cannot let things drift. They may have to issue strong letters to secure repayments but this is a fact of life.
Then it will not go further than words?
If it has to be, it will be. All I am saying is that over the years the board have gone the whole way in very few cases.
Would the Minister consider a renegotiation of the terms with skippers who are in difficulty so that a further period of repayment might be added to their repayment period and consequently bring about a reduction——
I do not want to suggest anything like that in a general way. What the Deputy suggested has been done in meritorious cases where the board are satisfied as to the bona fides of the fishermen. For obvious reasons, it would be very dangerous to have such a scheme which would be applied generally.