Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
1181. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the review of replacement tonnage for fishing boats will be completed and the results published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35301/17]
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.
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 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.
I received proposals from a Producer Organisation (PO) which, in summary, relate to the possibility of reducing the requirement to provide 100% replacement capacity with the relevant track record to 80% (the balance being sourced from capacity without track record). I undertook a public consultation process on these proposals and made a consultation paper available which set out the background to fleet policy and carried out an analysis of the current situation. The consultation paper examined the implications of the proposals made by the Producer Organisation and also put forward alternative options. Twenty-six submissions were received during the public consultation period which ended on 28 February 2017.
Having carefully considered these submissions and the proposals put forward by the Producer Organisation, I can inform the Deputy that I am making my decision on this matter at present. Once I have made my decision, which is imminent, I will advise the fishing industry representative groups accordingly. I will also make my decision public and have my conclusions published on my Department's website as soon as possible.
