Vol. 518 No. 6
149 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if it is his Department's policy to grant tuna fishing licences only to applicants from the Cork-Kerry region; the reason some applicants are granted two licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13138/00]
EU regulation 1239/98 sets limits on the number of vessels that may participate in the tuna drift net fishery based on 60% of the number of vessels which used drift nets during the period 1995-1997.
To meet this requirements, the allocation of drift net authorisations for both the 1998 and 1999 seasons was carried out on the basis of objective criteria related to track records of vessels in the fishery. Priority was given to licensees whose vessels had the strongest track record in the fishery. In some cases more than one participating vessel was owned by the same licensee and hence that person could be entitled to more than one authorisation. The geographical origin of applicants was not a criterion.
My Department is currently in the process of assessing applications to participate in the tuna drift net fishery for the 2000 season and will submit its recommendations tome shortly for decision.
150 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will grant a tuna fishing licence to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13139/00]
My Department is currently assessing applications for authorisation to participate in the tuna drift net fishery for the 2000 season, by reference to the parameters of the relevant EU regulation and on the basis of objective criteria related to track records of vessels in the fishery. Pending completion of that assessment and recommendation to me, I am not in a position to comment on the outcome of individual applications.
