Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:126 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to the new sea fisheries licensing regime proposed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26296/03]
Written Answers. - Fishing Vessel Licences.
The position is that I am currently finalising a new policy for the licensing of sea fishing boats following consultations with the industry. I intend to put the new overall policy in place within the next day or so, assuming nothing unforeseen arises.
My officials presented revised licensing policy proposals to the sea-fishing boat licensing policy review group on 22 October. A further meeting of the review group was held on 30 October to hear the views of its members, which includes broad representation from industry organisations. The revised policy proposals were also placed on the Department's website with a request for written observations by an extended deadline of noon on 4 November. The various views put forward by the industry in respect of the range of policy proposals concerned are currently being carefully examined before I decide on, and formally introduce, the new overall licensing policy.
The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 established an independent licensing authority which will implement the new sea fishing boat licensing policy. The Act allows me, as Minister, to issue general policy directives to the licensing authority.
I have recently given a policy directive regarding the licensing of vessels in the specific and aquaculture fleet segments as it became clear that the policy proposals in this regard would remain unchanged following the consultation process. The licensing authority is, therefore, already in a position to process licence applications relating to these fleet segments. I will issue a policy directive to the licensing authority in respect of the licensing of vessels in the remaining pelagic, beamer and polyvalent fleet segments, where the policy proposals are somewhat more involved, when the current deliberations are concluded, in a day or two. Details of the new policy will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and published in Iris Oifigiúil, as required under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003.