Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Regulations.

John Deasy

Ceist:

761 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the total tonnage for the Irish fishing fleet as laid down by EU regulations; the element of this taken up by super trawlers such as the Atlantic Challenge; and the exact tonnage for each super trawler in the Irish fleet. [20991/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The overall reference levels, or capacity limits, for the Irish fishing fleet, as set down by EU Commission Regulation 1438/2003, are 86,981 gross tonnes, GT, and 230,226 kilowatts, KW.

The current total capacity of the Irish pelagic fleet segment, within which the large pelagic trawlers must be licensed and registered, is 31,996 GT and 47,837 KW. The total permissible capacity of vessels in this fleet segment is 36,470 GT and 47,873 KW. A list of the vessels in the pelagic fleet segment, and the capacity of each follows.

Capacity of Vessels in the Pelagic Segment of the Irish Fishing Fleet

Vessel	GT	KW
Áine	714	1,103
Antarctic	1,584	2,500
Atlantean	1,630	1,567
Atlantic Challenge	1,783	2,940
Atlantic Dawn	14,055	14,400
Brendelen	1,093	2,710
Colmcille	256	709
Father McKee	1,093	2,710
Girl Stephanie	470	700
Golden Rose	419	1,007
Menhaden	229	895
Neptune	707	1,070
Orloin	341	634
Largy	341	709
Paraclete	504	917

Vessel	GT	KW
Paula	1,302	3,460
Sea Spray	211	522
Seán Pól	477	1,082
Sheanne	1,479	2,238
Silver King	258	671
Western Endeavour	1,988	2,984
Western Viking	806	1,600
Carmarose	256	709
Total	31,996	47,837

John Deasy

Ceist:

762 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the proposals he has to assist people who purchased tonnage from the Irish register in good faith prior to 1 January 2003 but had not been issued with licences; the negotiations that have taken place with the EU Commission in this regard; and the outcome of those negotiations. [20992/03]

John Deasy

Ceist:

763 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he was first alerted to the proposal that anyone with tonnage in their name but not on the Irish Fishing Vessel Register of 1 January 2003 can no longer use or sell that tonnage and when his Department communicated this to people who were in the process of applying for licences; if he will detail the number of applications in his Department whereby tonnage had been purchased but because of delays in the issuing of licences the tonnage was not on the Irish register on 1 January 2003; if he proposes to compensate these applicants who are suffering severe financial difficulties as a result of the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20993/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 762 and 763 together.

I would like to clarify the position in relation to this issue. In December 2002 the EU Council adopted a framework regulation, Council Regulation 2371/2002, for the Common Fisheries Policy, which set down a new policy for fleet management at EU level. Under the new policy, overall fleet capacity limits, in terms of tonnage and engine power, are established for each member state and there is an overall requirement that the current level of fleet capacity does not increase.

In March 2003 the European Commission brought forward draft implementing rules in respect of the new EU fleet policy. The rules as drafted would have meant,inter alia, that capacity, tonnage and engine power, not on the fishing boat register on 1 January 2003 could not be reintroduced into the fleet. The fishing industry was made aware of the draft EU proposals. However, following intense negotiations between my Department and the European Commission, the EU implementing rules were amended, and clarifications given, which significantly addressed Irelands concerns. The EU rules, as finally adopted in Commission Regulation 1438/2003 of 12 August 2003, provide that the capacity of the fleet on 1 January 2003 may be increased to take account of administrative decisions taken in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002 which granted approval for the introduction of additional capacity into the fleet. Any such increase to the capacity situation set down for 1 January 2003 must be subject to EU fleet capacity limits for the Irish fleet set under the Fourth Multi-Annual Guidance Programme being respected on a fleet segment basis. The capacity must be reintroduced into the fleet not later than three years after the date of the administrative decision. The EU rules also allow for the use of ‘off-register' capacity towards the introduction of vessels into the fleet, subject always to the capacity limits set at EU level not being exceeded.

I recently introduced new policy proposals for sea fishing boat licensing, taking account of the new EU policy and the overall capacity situation of the Irish fleet. The new policy proposals are designed to ensure,inter alia, that capacity currently being held by fishermen ‘off-register' can be reintroduced into the fleet, and that binding EU fleet capacity limits are complied with. The policy proposals have been the subject of consultation with the industry. I propose to finalise and introduce the new licensing policy shortly.