Over the past number of months I have met and received representations from a number of delegations, which included colleagues in the Dáil in relation to the licensing and registration of vessels in the inshore sector.
As I informed the Deputy in my reply to his parliamentary question on 7 March 2002, I will be seeking the approval of the European Commission for proposed amendments to the scheme for the licensing of fishing vessels in the inshore fleet that would provide that vessel owners will only be required to provide 50% replacement capacity in respect of their vessel in the context of the creation of a new inshore segment in the fishing fleet.