Michael Ring
Ceist:38 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the 1992 Torremolinos Protocol, which relates to the International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, will be signed. [26565/98]
Other Questions. - Fishing Vessels Safety.
Alan Shatter
Ceist:53 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the 1992 Torremolinos Protocol, which relates to the International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, will be signed. [26564/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 53 together.
The principal issue to which the Deputies refer is the implementation in Irish law of the provisions of the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol modifying the 1977 Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels. European Council Directive 97/70/EC on a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres and over in length provides for the implementation by EU member states of the terms of the Torremolinos Protocol.
The Department has prepared draft regulations to transpose the directive and to give full effect to the provisions of the protocol. These regulations are currently being settled in the Office of the Attorney General. I intend to introduce the regulations before the end of this year, as required under the Council directive.
When the regulations are in place, giving the terms of the Torremolinos Protocol full effect in national law, Ireland will be in a position to ratify the protocol. I propose to pursue this course of action with the Department of Foreign Affairs which has responsibility for such matters.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputies.
Is it not true that fishermen have been saying for some years that the state of the Irish fishing fleet is a disgrace? It is old and dangerous. Perhaps that is one of the reasons there is a reluctance on the part of the State to sign the international convention. Is it not true that the fishing fleet is dangerously substandard?
I have taken a strong stance on this and have received the support of my Cabinet colleagues to take a number of steps to improve matters. It is true that the fleet, to a large extent, is old. The average age of the vessels is high. They do not, therefore, have the most up to date equipment and procedures.
I am happy with the good response to the white fishing fleet renewal programme. It was welcomed by both sides of the House, which is only appropriate since it was initiated within the Oireachtas. It is a particularly important programme. A total of 31 new white fish vessels have been approved. This will make a huge difference and represents a major upgrading of the fleet.
Shortly, the approvals for modern secondhand vessels, under ten years old, will be issued. Those vessels will be quite young given the age of the fleet generally. Approvals for modernisation are also due. In addition, part of the modernisation package includes a monthly allocation for safety equipment. That is increasingly being taken up and I urge all fishermen to adopt the safety measures. There is a 50 per cent grant for safety equipment and there is every opportunity to upgrade vessels and their safety features and standards.
The safety initiative was slow to take off, apart from in new vessels. However, when the second-hand and the modernised vessels come on stream, the initiative will be further consolidated. Furthermore, the addition of safety equipment is now gathering momentum and I expect a greater take up in the future.
The fishing vessels safety review of 1996, which was conducted under the previous Minister, Deputy Barrett, identified 64 per cent of the fleet as having difficulties. The current Minister's programme for modernisation of older vessels and the provision of new vessels is extremely welcome. However, given the scale of the difficulties with regard to the safety of vessels, what percentage of the overall fishing fleet will the programme cover?
In the Fianna Fáil election manifesto, the Minister said he would consider allocating funding for the provision of emergency position indicating radio beacons. What is the position in that regard given the criticisms in the report on the sinking of the Carrickatine?
I have not calculated the outcome of the programme. We must first see how many approvals there will be under the modernisation——
When will the Minister know that?
I expect them to be available in the next ten days or so. Everything is being done quite efficiently and I congratulate BIM on its handling of the issue. We established a type of customer service package which included target dates and BIM has kept to those dates.
We are encouraging the provision of beacons or EPIRBs through the safety grants. I plan to make them compulsory.
Will the Minister provide the finance?
We already provide 50 per cent of the finance.
I do not wish to criticise the Minister whose new scheme has been well received. It is an excellent advance on anything proposed in recent years. However, the problem of old vessels, whose seaworthiness is open to question, has been with us for many years. In the case of the Jenalisa, it was a rough but not a treacherous day. In recent years, a number of fishing boats have sunk despite the fact that the weather was quite good. Does the Minister not agree that this is a shocking indictment of the state of the fleet? Earlier this week and in calm weather, a boat which had fouled its propeller with its own nets sank off the west coast, thankfully without loss of life. That illustrates my point that much of the fleet is dangerously substandard.
Last week Deputy Finucane published a Bill which seeks to put greater controls on maritime activities in the interest of safety. Will the Government support that Bill and provide Government time for it to be debated in the House?
Regarding the schemes in general and sea worthiness, all vessels are required to undergo an examination every 12 — or it may be 14 — months. Regular checks which are very important are carried out by the Marine Survey Office. I agree that sea worthiness is crucial and essential for crews on vessels.
The issue of how boats get into difficulties is in some ways separate. As the Deputy mentioned, nets can foul on a high sea and it becomes necessary to let them go very quickly. If this is not done fast enough the vessel may get into difficulty. The stability of boats in these circumstances is being considered arising out of the investigations on the sinking of vessels. I am very concerned that some of the best modern boats have sunk. In so far as they can, the reports will lay out the circumstances in which this happens. In other cases vessels vanish without trace and cannot be found which means there is no chance of getting information about what happened, other than that communicated in advance.
It is a dangerous livelihood and every precaution must be taken, particularly in terms of mechanics, which seems to be one of the main causes of accidents and difficulties. I accept that more attention will have to be given to the matter.
In terms of jet skis——
The issue is not jet skis but exclusive adventure centres, etc.
That issue is down for discussion during Private Members' time. We are preparing legislation in this area, but it is complex as it concerns not just my Department but also local authorities, each of which has its own jurisdiction. It was reported in yesterday's Irish Independent that Fingal County Council in north Dublin is setting out rules about what can be done in particular areas along the coastline.
That paper used it as an excuse to have a go at Mr. Haughey for exercising his horses on the beach.
I ask the Minister not to answer questions which come by way of interruption. Already 20 minutes have been spent on this question, which is far too long.
I wondered about this as I am responsible for the foreshore. There must be a derogation somewhere along the line. We will investigate the foreshore issue to see whether people can continue to race horses at Laytown and Portmarnock.