asked the Minister for the Marine the reason he has refused an application for a sea-fishing boat licence made by a company (details supplied) under section 222B, inserted by section 2 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1983, of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 in respect of M.F.V. Dirk Dirk.

A licence application in respect of the company named was refused in respect of a pelagic freezer vessel.

It has been long-standing policy that new mackerel vessels may only be licensed on a replacement basis; this policy was explained to the applicant prior to his making formal application.

The reason for this restriction is that the capacity to fish mackerel is substantially greater than the available quotas. It is my duty as Minister for the Marine, to take a responsible attitude and gear our fleet development towards available fishing resources. It would make no economic sense to allow new boats enter the pelagic fleet at this time. It would merely undermine the viability of the existing boats.