Michael Ring
Ceist:55 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a sea-fishing boat licence. [6331/98]
Written Answers - Fishing Vessel Licences.
Under European Union fleet policy, member states' fishing fleets are constrained by decisions taken in the context of fleet Multi Annual Guidance Programmes. Against this background, sea fishing boat licensing policy is designed to maintain strict control on proposed introductions of vessels into the fleet.
Under current licensing policy, a licence may only be approved where an applicant removes capacity from the sea fishing boat register equal to that of the proposed new vessel. Only vessels entered on the current sea fishing boat register are acceptable as replacement capacity.
The person concerned has proposed a vessel as replacement capacity which was never entered on the current sea fishing boat register and, consequently, it is not acceptable as replacement capacity. The position was explained to him by letter dated 19 September 1996 and the position was subsequently also explained in a written reply on 4 March 1997. To date, however, the person concerned has not been in contact again with the Department.
A licence may not be granted to the individual until there is compliance with licensing policy requirements in relation to the withdrawal of replacement capacity.