John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The lost at sea scheme was introduced in June 2001, following consultation with the fishing industry representative organisations, to enable qualifying applicants under the scheme to receive replacement capacity in respect of fishing boats lost at sea between 1980 and the establishment of the Fishing Boat Register in 1990. The closing date for receipt of applications was 31 December 2001.

In January 2003, over 12 months after the closing date, an application under the scheme was received in the Department from a particular applicant, the subject of Deputy Perry's question.

In December 2004, the Office of the Ombudsman wrote to the Department indicating that it was examining a complaint from this applicant on their application under the lost at sea scheme and seeking specified information. The Department provided full information and documentation required.

In February 2006, the Ombudsman wrote to the Department stating that she was going to carry out a formal investigation into the application and requesting certain files, which the Department duly provided. On 13 July 2006, the Ombudsman invited the Department to comment on the statement of complaint. The Department returned comments on 31 July 2006. It is clear that the investigation by the Ombudsman is ongoing and that the Department has fully co-operated with the investigation at all times. For obvious reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to require the Department to initiate an internal investigation while the Ombudsman's investigations are still ongoing. However, I will give serious consideration to the Ombudsman's report on the conclusion of her investigation.

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