Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
198 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in the issuing of a licence for the boat of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20957/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme for Government included a commitment to set up an independent licensing authority for sea-fishing boats. This promise was fulfilled with the establishment of the Licensing Authority on 1 July 2003, under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, and is headed up by the registrar general of fishing boats, a senior Department official.
The Licensing Authority has informed me that there are two main issues involved in the licensing of the fishing vessel concerned. The first concerns the person to whom the vessel is proposed to be licensed. The Licensing Authority issued a letter of licence offer to the applicant, the son of the previously licensed owner, on 5 February 2003. The conditions contained therein were not complied with by the applicant before the letter of offer expired on 5 February 2004. The applicant's father subsequently advised the Licensing Authority that it was now proposed to continue to have the vessel licensed in his name.
The second issue relates to tonnage remeasurement of the vessel. In accordance with EU regulations all fishing vessels over 15 metres in overall length were required to have their tonnage converted from gross registered tonnage units to gross tonnage units by 31 December 2003. In order to facilitate this tonnage remeasurement, relevant drawings of the vessel were required to be submitted to this Department's marine survey office, MSO, in advance of that date. Drawings in respect of the vessel are understood to have been first received by the MSO on 23 February 2004. The drawings were found to be incomplete and were therefore returned. The drawings were re-submitted to the MSO last month and are currently being assessed.
The Licensing Authority has advised that it will be in a position to issue a licence to the previously licensed owner as soon as the remeasurement issue has been satisfactorily resolved, and subject to confirmation that the vessel is still owned by him. In the event that his son wishes to have the vessel licensed in his name, he would be required to submit a new licence application to the Licensing Authority and to fully comply with the terms of any licence offer subsequently issued.
