Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016
194. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the policy directive 2003/2 on fleet sub-segmentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5104/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing were transferred from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-Fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are considered by the Licensing Authority. As Minister I have responsibility for policy in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing under Section 3 (3) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 2003, as amended by Section 99 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006. In this context and as referred to above, Section 3 of the 2003 Act makes provision for Ministerial policy directives to issue to the independent Licensing Authority for Sea-Fishing Boats. I am, however, precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to individual cases, or a group of cases, with which the Licensing Authority is or may be concerned under Section 3(5) of the 2003 Act.
Policy Directive 2/2003 issued in November 2003. The key overall objective of a new licensing policy at that time was to create a new open and transparent policy which would facilitate the achievement of a sustainable and viable livelihood for fishermen operating in the various types of fisheries taking account of available fishing opportunities and fishing resources. The Policy Directive has been subject to a number of amendments to deal with new management policies put in place.
On the basis of a Departmental review of the capacity situation of the fleet, and taking account of intensive consultations with all key stakeholders, including industry representatives and fishermen, the then Minister issued that Directive for adjustment of sea-fishing boat licensing policy. The Policy Directive addressed some of the critical issues associated with fleet management in the Irish context, including segmentation and replacement capacity policy.
The Deputy will appreciate that any amendments to current licensing policy, both in relation to any particular Policy Directive and indeed generally, would have to be carefully considered and analysed. In this regard, I can inform the Deputy that I have asked Department officials to examine in detail the potential impacts of proposals on fleet policy submitted by a Producer Organisation. This process will involve, inter alia, an evaluation and impact analysis and is likely to take some time.
Once the analysis is completed, my Department proposes to circulate a paper incorporating these proposals to Producer Organisations for their views. Depending on the views received from the POs, a decision will then be made on whether the matter goes to full consultation with all stakeholders.
