The Department of the Marine has been criticised by a fisherman's organisation for freezing the issuing of fishing licences to boats. Patrick Butler reports.
Mr Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation said the Department's decision to postpone decisions on current licensing applications could be disastrous for some of his members.
Mr Whooley was responding to a statement from the Department which said it would not be appropriate to make decisions on current licence applications until the draft EU regulation on national fleet policy has been finalised.
The new regulation was only passed by one vote (43 to 44) last month. However, because the decision did not have a qualified majority, its adoption was postponed. Dr Franz Fischler, the EU Commissioner responsible for fisheries, is consulting with Commissioners about bringing in the new regulation later this year.
"This shouldn't hold up the issuing of new licences," insisted Mr Whooley. He said he supported the new framework and that the fishing industry has a major role to play in its adoption. However, he claimed that transactions in the south-west worth up to €10 million were being delayed because of the Department's licensing policy. He said he did not expect the new regulation to be finalised until the autumn, which could result in substantial hardship for the fishermen.
He also insisted that the boats awaiting licences complied with every existing regulation and urged the Department to issue temporary fishing licences to deal with the problem.
Mr Whooley said that at a time when the economy is in a state of contraction, the Government should be doing everything to help people who were willing to invest in industry and create new jobs.
"Mary Harney should be doing somersaults to get these \ to sea," he said. He also called for the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to get involved.
A Department of the Marine spokesperson said the Department was hoping to get a new licensing system introduced by early autumn. In the meantime, Ireland was obliged to work within the existing European framework.
"Our experience in the past is that interim licences do not work satisfactorily.
"It's not a good road to go down," the spokesperson added.