Liam Kavanagh
Ceist:61 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for the Marine if he has any proposals in mind for improving the age profile of the Irish fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Fishing Fleet.
The age structure of the Irish fishing fleet is of considerable concern. Some two-thirds of the fleet is over 15 years old while almost one-fifth is over 30 years old.
It is also a feature of most applications for new licences for fishing boats that they are in respect of second-hand and quite old boats which are brought in from outside the State.
The general question of the age of the fleet and the age criteria to apply to the introduction of new boats into the fleet is one of the issues which has been addressed in the report of the Licensing Review Group which I have at present under examination. One of the proposals made is that older boats should no longer be allowed into the Irish fishing fleet.