39 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will support efforts by the trade union movement to have all flags of convenience vessels registered under the flags of their country of ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23316/01]

As Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources I have no powers to compel any ship operator to use any particular ship register. An EU national or body corporate established under and subject to the law of any member state can register a ship under any EU flag. A number of member states have both first and second ship registers.

The use of so called "flags of convenience" is not prohibited under EU law. The 1997 EU Community guidelines on state aid to maritime transport restrict specified forms of state aid to ships on EU registers. The Commission, supported by my Department in respect of Irish-owned shipping and Irish ports, is encouraging ship operators to use EU ship registers through beneficial fiscal measures and rigorous port state control inspections.

40 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason the inspection requirements and the requirement to produce log books for inspection, applied to foreign-registered fishing vessels landing at Irish ports, are different from the requirements relating to Irish-registered vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23404/01]

Fishing vessels landing at Irish ports, both Irish and non-Irish, are inspected in a manner that is even-handed and appropriate. The inspection procedures applied in individual cases depend on the particular circumstances involved and not on the nationality of the vessel concerned.