The five pelagic fishing vessels referred to by the Deputy are licensed under section 222B of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, as amended. These licences, were granted subject to and pending resolution of outstanding replacement capacity issues at national and EU level.
Under existing licensing policy, 100% replacement capacity must be provided before vessels in the fleet can be replaced by new vessels. The full replacement capacity has not yet been provided in the case of these five vessels. All five vessel owners have submitted data in support of their cases that the increased tonnage capacity relates exclusively to safety improvements. I am aware, in particular, that two of the vessels concerned were lengthened some years after their introduction into the fleet to address serious stability and operational safety concerns.
The 100% replacement requirement will be determined in light of decisions by the Commission on applications for safety tonnage credits in each case. Under the 1997 EU Council decision on the fourth multi-annual guidance programme for the EU fleet, increases in capacity resulting exclusively from safety improvements may be credited to individual vessels. These must be justified on a case by case basis and approved by the Commission. My Department has been liaising with the vessel owners on their safety tonnage applications, which are being evaluated for transmission to the Commission. In the event that the safety tonnage credits are not approved by the Commission in respect of all the tonnage in question, the vessel owners will be obliged to meet the tonnage shortfall.
Two of the vessels concerned are also showing a shortfall in engine power replacement capacity. My Department is in regular communication with the owners of the vessels concerned regarding this shortfall and has advised them that the excess power must be addressed without delay.