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407 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 408Fishing Permits.174. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesif he will revoke the fishing permit for courseangling introduced in 2003 on the River Suck; andif he will make a statement on the matter.[5652/05]181. Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesthe amount of money collected by way of fishingpermits or rod licences on the River Suck (detailssupplied) since the legislation was introducedover two years ago; the cost of providing suchpermits by way of printing, travelling expensesand general administration costs; if his attentionhas been drawn to the fact that this scheme hasbeen a disaster for this area; if his attention hasfurther been drawn to the fact that this river is anoutstanding coarse fishing venue and the introductionof the fishing permit has discouraged anglersfrom fishing on the river; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [5937/05]Minister of State at the Department ofCommunications, Marine and Natural Resources(Mr. Gallagher): I propose to take QuestionsNos. 174 and 181 together.Under the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2001, theregional fisheries boards are empowered to havea permit charge for angling on fisheries undertheir control and management. However, theapplication of such a permit charge is an operationalmatter solely for the relevant board todecide, in this instance the Shannon RegionalFisheries Board, and is not something over whichI, as Minister of State, have control.I am advised by the Shannon Regional FisheriesBoard that it has had a permit charge for troutangling for many years on fisheries that it controlsand manages in the region. I am also informed bythe board that the permit income is reinvested inthe conservation and day-to-day management ofthese fisheries.I understand that the fisheries board, inreviewing its management and the fees chargedfor its fisheries in 2002, decided to extend the permitcharges to cover coarse angling on the boardcontrolled fisheries on the basis that it was unfairto charge one angler to fish for one species whileanother angler fishing for a different species onthe same water was not charged. As this is anoperational matter, I have asked the chief executiveofficer of the Shannon Regional FisheriesBoard to address the particular queries raised andto reply directly to the Deputies.Alternative Energy Projects.175. Mr. Gregory asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesthe action that is being taken to achieve theobjective set out in the EU biofuels directiverequiring Ireland to replace 2% of petrol anddiesel with renewable fuels by the end of 2005and to increase this to 5.75% by 2010; if bioethanolfrom sugar beet is being considered as aviable alternative; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5750/05]Minister for Communications, Marine andNatural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey): MyDepartment is responsible for the promotion anddevelopment of renewable energy including biofuelsand I am committed to the development andpromotion of a biofuels market in Ireland’s transportfuel sector. The targets set in the biofuelsdirective for market penetration of biofuels areindicative and not mandatory and present a challengeto Ireland given the low base from whichwe are starting. An interdepartmental group hasbeen established, chaired by my Department andcomprising officials from Sustainable EnergyIreland, SEI, and the Departments of the Environment,Heritage and Local Government, Transport,Agriculture and Food, and Finance. Thegroup is considering policy options for thedevelopment of a biofuels sector in Ireland. Aspart of the work of this group, a liquid biofuelsstrategy study was published by SEI in Decemberwhich examines the full range of options andpotential supports for liquid biofuels developmentin Ireland, including bioethanol and biodiesel.The report is being considered as part of theoverall policy objective to increase market penetrationof biofuels in Ireland, which is at a verylow level.In March 2004, my Department secured anamendment to the Finance Act 1999, which providesfor the introduction of a scheme for excisetax relief for biofuels. The purpose of the schemeis to allow qualified and conditional relief fromexcise of biofuel used in approved pilot projectsfor either the production of biofuel or the testingof the technical viability of biofuel for use as amotor fuel. It is envisaged that the scheme willencompass market development for pure plantoil, biodiesel and bioethanol. The EuropeanCommission has confirmed that the schemewould represent a state aid and consequently itsapproval is required. In this regard the Departmentof Finance has written to the Commissionseeking approval. Once the necessary clearance isgranted, a commencement order will be signed bythe Department of Finance and the process forproject selection and approval will beimplemented.Sustainable Energy Ireland is also funding anumber of biomass projects and studies throughits renewable energy research development anddemonstration, RERDD, programme. Under theprogramme, Sustainable Energy Ireland offerscapital grant aid for biofuels market demonstrationprojects in the pure plant oil, biodieseland bioethanol categories.Fishing Industry Development.176. Mr. Perry asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourceswhen a comprehensible survey to establish theparameters of the wild oyster fishery in Lough
409 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 410Swilly will be carried out; if this will be done inconjunction with interested parties such as aquacultureinterests, licensed wild oyster dredgers andrepresentatives from the Inch fishing communityand traditional hand-pickers; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [5754/05]Minister of State at the Department ofCommunications, Marine and Natural Resources(Mr. Gallagher): A comprehensive survey of thewild oyster beds in Lough Swilly was carried outin 2001 by personnel from Bord Iascaigh Mharain conjunction with staff from the aquacultureinitiative — a cross-Border body funded underthe peace programme. The survey was conductedin conjunction with the Lough Swilly Wild OysterDevelopment Association, LSWODA, and otherwild fisheries interests and its findings werewidely disseminated at that time. Since then anumber of smaller-scale surveys of specific areasof Lough Swilly have been carried out. Mostrecently, a survey was conducted adjacent to theBallygreen area, the results of which, I understand,will be reported to the Department beforethe end of February. At the request of theLSWODA, a further local survey of the Ryebridgearea is to be carried out in the next sixmonths by BIM and aquaculture initiative staffas before.I am advised that as a result of the work carriedout in recent years, the location and extent of theLough Swilly wild oyster beds are quite wellunderstood. In these circumstances, there are noproposals at present for a further comprehensivesurvey of the oyster beds.Fishing Vessel Licences.177. Mr. Kenny asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesif his attention has been drawn to the hardshipcaused by conditions to licences awarded to certainfishing vessels (details supplied); and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5824/05]Minister of State at the Department ofCommunications, Marine and Natural Resources(Mr. Gallagher): The Fisheries Consolidation Act1959, as amended, expressly empowers the licensingauthority to make it a condition of a sea-fishingboat licence that a certain proportion of thecrew of a boat shall be of a specified nationality.The requirement for a certain proportion of crewmembers to be of EU nationality arises from theimportance of achieving the maximum economicbenefit to coastal communities and the Irish economygenerally from the operation of an Irish seafishingboat. The requirement was reduced from75% to 50% in 2001 following representationsfrom industry representatives. It should be notedthat the recent enlargement of the EuropeanUnion has increased the number of potentialcrew members from EU nationalities. Since thischange was implemented, there has been nodemand from industry representatives for anyfurther change in this requirement. In the eventthat a change in the requirement is pursued byindustry representatives, I will review the matter.178. Mr. Ferris asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesif the licensing authority will issue a short-termpolyvalent licence to a person (detailssupplied). [5862/05]179. Mr. Ferris asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesthe number of short-term polyvalent licenceswhich have been issued since 1 January 2005.[5863/05]180. Mr. Ferris asked the Minister forCommunications, Marine and Natural Resourcesthe number of short-term pelagic licences whichhave been re-issued since 1 January 2005.[5864/05]Minister of State at the Department ofCommunications, Marine and Natural Resources(Mr. Gallagher): I propose to take Question Nos.178 to 180, inclusive, together.The particular licence applicant referred to bythe Deputy wrote to me on 31 January 2005 seekinga polyvalent sea-fishing boat licence for thevessel in question, without the provision of 100%replacement capacity, on a short-term basis. Iwrote to him on 9 February informing him thatresponsibility for the licensing of sea-fishing boatshad transferred to the licensing authority for seafishingboats established under the Fisheries(Amendment) Act 2003 and that I had passed hisletter to the head of the licensing authority, asenior official in the Department, for direct replyto him. The licensing authority operates on anindependent basis subject to certain criteria andimplements licensing policy in accordance withministerial policy directives.I understand that the licensing authority, whichhad previously met and written to the individualconcerned about this matter, replied to him on 10February and again explained that sea-fishingboat licensing policy does not permit the licensingauthority to license the vessel without fullreplacement capacity being provided in advance.It pointed out that ministerial policy directive2/2003, issued to the licensing authority on 17November 2003, makes it clear that the 1:1replacement capacity requirement applies otherthan in limited specified cases. I understand thatthe licensing authority recently agreed to extend,by three months, the period of validity of thelicence offer issued to the individual concerned togive him more time to comply with licensingrequirements.On the question of “short-term” licences, nostatutory period is specified in respect of whichsea-fishing licences may be granted. Subject toany overriding licensing policy considerations,this is an operational matter for the licensingauthority which can issue licences having validityfor any period of time in the interests of efficientmanagement of licensing and taking into account
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