Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2013
396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 396 of 14 May 2013 if he will provide the reasons that a draft salmon fishing licence did not issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who did not avail of the salmon hardship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30523/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe annual allocation of public licences for commercial draft nets is governed by the provisions of the relevant Control of Fishing for Salmon Order. The issuing of licences is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the decision on licence allocations were made in advance of the season which commenced on the 12th May. Any person over the age of 18 is entitled to apply for a public draft net licence unless they have previously availed of the Salmon Hardship Scheme. The process identifies a number of categories of applicant depending on, inter alia, the applicant’s previous fishing history.
In the area in question there were a total of 20 applications for 14 available licences. In the interests of fairness, fishermen who most recently held a licence are prioritised. All the previous licence holders from 2012 applied again in 2013 and consequently all available licences were allocated and there were none available for the 6 other applicants, one of whom is the person the subject of the question, who has not held a draft net licence in the past 6 years.
