Michael Smith
Ceist:2 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine his policy on vessel licensing and decommissioning of vessels.[4109/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licensing-Decommissioning of Vessels.
I should explain that under European Union fleet policy the capacities of member states' fishing fleets are constrained by decisions taken in the context of fleet multi annual guidance programmes. In Ireland's case capacity targets set for the end of 1996 require that the fleet be reduced by approximately 3,000 tonnes.
Against this background, sea-fishing boat licensing policy is designed to maintain strict control on all proposed new entrants to the Irish fleet. Licences can only be approved where the applicants undertake to remove capacity from the sea fishing boat register that is at least equal to the capacity of proposed new boats.
Other licensing policy requirements include the submission by applicants of documentary evidence demonstrating that proposed new entrants to the fleet are safe and seaworthy and that no decommissioning grants have been paid in respect of the boats in any other member states.
In the operational programme for fisheries, which I launched yesterday, provision has been made for the introduction of a decommissioning scheme to assist the achievement of Ireland's multi annual guidance programme fleet targets.Over the next two years it is envisaged that national and European Union funding of about £6 million will be made available for decommissioning. The scheme will be administered by BIM. In addition, implementation of the scheme will lead to improvements in the overall structure and age profile of the fleet.
Is the Minister aware there is great disappointment at the delay in putting into effect the decommissioning scheme which it was envisaged would be introduced late last year or early this year and is now being put back for at least another year? I am informed there is considerable confusion and lack of transparency in the area of licensing. Since the fleet now has a restricted capacity and with the transfer of licences between the fleet categories, we need a much more open and transparent system. Will the Minister outline his plans to ensure that confusion is eradicated?
In regard to the Deputy's first question, I am hopeful the scheme will be launched within the next two to three months and that applications from the industry will be invited with immediate effect from that time. One of the reasons it has been delayed relates to queries concerning the tax position of payments and we are currently in discussions with the Department of Finance in that regard. I am anxious to clear as many hurdles as possible before introducing the scheme. A final decision has not yet been taken on the grant level but it is accepted, that it will have to be pitched at a level that is likely to attract a sufficient number of applications. I am anxious to proceed quickly with the scheme but those who wish to avail of it will require as much clarity as possible. One of the first issues about which I heard many expressions of concern since coming into the Department was the uncertainty about licensing. People were unsure of the rules and there was a question mark over whether people were being treated on an equal basis. There is some evidence to suggest that in the past licensing was dealt with in a less than even-handed way. I have asked my Department to produce a discussion document so that the Minister of State, my officials and I can examine the whole area of licensing to make it more transparent — I do not like using the word "transparent".People will then be familiar with the rules and they will realise that everybody is being treated on the same basis. I am determined to do that as quickly as possible.
I am sorry the Minister appears to be reluctant to use the word "transparent"——
I thought it was a little overused.
The Deputy would not understand it.
——because it was very much needed in the past few months. Obviously, when one is in power it can be a little more difficult than when one is in Opposition. Will it be possible to transfer licences between the beam trawler multipurpose vessels and the pelagic sector? In relation to decommissioning, will priority be given to people with older boats?
On the second question, the Deputy's assumption is correct in that it would be primarily targeted at older boats to allow older people to retire from the fleet. I do not quite understand the Deputy's first question.
It dealt with the question of transfer of tonnage between the fleet categories.
There has been some transfer, for example, in the case of the Veronica. Because the owner of the Veronica was unable to purchase sufficient tonnage from the pelagic sector he was permitted to buy some white fish tonnage.A number of similar cases have been negotiated by my Department. I have sought to end that practice because I am concerned that if too much white tonnage is used in this way, there will not be sufficient white tonnage for the smaller boats to buy and sell within the white fish sector. That practice has been suspended and I hope that answers the Deputy's question.
In relation to the EU funded upgrading and renewal scheme which is confined to boats up to 30 years of age, and since the Minister will accept that many boats are older than that and are likely to remain in commission, does he envisage introducing any State support for owners to at least make provision for adequate safety in the older boat fleet?
I will look sympathetically at applications for assistance to provide safety measures for older boats likely to stay in commission, but I am not sure if I am precluded from giving such assistance. The Deputy has raised an obvious question about boats over 30 years old, used for fishing but which are unsafe yet the owners have insufficient money to upgrade them from their own resources. I will check the matter out and communicate with the Deputy.