Results 12,821-12,840 of 13,220 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I am aware of the immense importance of the coastal fisheries sector to fishing communities in Ireland. As a first step in bringing effective management and conservation measures to the coastal sector, a scheme for the licensing of traditional pot fishing boats was launched by the previous Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in 2003. The implementation of the licensing scheme is now nearing...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The recommendation referred to by the Deputy relates to a report on the tragic incident involving the capsizing of a 4.6 m angling boat at Fermoyle Beach, Brandon Bay, County Kerry on 23 September 2003, with the loss of one crew member's life. I convey my sympathies to the family of the victim on this tragic loss. This incident was investigated by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board under...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The draft code of safe practice for recreational craft was issued for public consultation last year and the maritime safety directorate of the Department is evaluating the comments received with the aim of publishing and launching the code in the near future. At the time of publication, the code will be made available to the public through the Department's website and other sources. The...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The EU introduced new arrangements for the control of certain pelagic fisheries — horse mackerel, mackerel and north west herring fisheries — in December 2003 which came into effect during 2004. The rules are set down in annex IV of Council Regulation 2287/2003 and were revised for 2005 in annex III, part C of Council Regulation 27/2005. These arrangements include the weighing in the...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In July 2002, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources requested all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the context of the 2003 to 2006 national coast protection programmes. Waterford County...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Since 2002, the Government has implemented a strategy to ensure, through progressive reductions in catch, that the conservation limits specified by the standing scientific committee of the National Salmon Commission are being reached. This policy of promoting the application of quotas on commercial fishing, including drift netting and bag limits on angling, has delivered significant catch...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 422 together. I have noted the Deputy's concerns and confirm that the requirements in the code of practice relating to sea survival courses are statutory requirements set out in the Fishing Vessel (Basic Safety Training) Regulations 2001, SI 587 of 2001. Under these regulations, all crew members of fishing vessels must undertake basic safety training...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: I have no proposals at present to reduce the number of fisheries boards. The Deputy may be aware that the report of the independent estimates review committee to the Minister for Finance indicated in respect of the fisheries boards that "there would seem to be scope for rationalising the existing structures of the central and regional fisheries boards" and questioned "whether the existing...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Consultants retained by this Department to conduct a study of the future development of the Irish Coastguard recommended that two control centres — as opposed to the existing three centres in Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia — should be operated. Following assessment of the recommendations, it was decided to close the marine rescue co-ordination centre in Dublin and retain two centres. The...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing and registration were transferred from the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the licensing authority for sea-fishing boats which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are considered by the licensing...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (26 Jan 2005)

Pat Gallagher: The feasibility of deploying emergency towing vessels, ETVs, in Irish waters is under consideration in the Department. In 1998, the then Department of the Marine and Natural Resources commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of deploying ETVs around the coast. Following an assessment of the study, which was published in 1999, it was decided that Ireland should have access to ETV...

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I do not agree with the motion but I thank Senator McHugh for tabling it because it gives us all an opportunity to debate the various issues. It also gives me an opportunity to defend the Government's position not just for the sake of it, but on the basis of fact. It is ironic that Fine Gael spokespersons and Senators are not prepared to look back at the core of the problem. I am not critical...

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Tá an fhírinne searbh. We must look at the root cause and that is when it started. We will leave the matter aside. Senator Coghlan referred to allegations. The Government took a decision on 10 or 11 October and investigations are being carried out. Nobody should draw any conclusions until the investigation is completed. Everybody is innocent until proven guilty. I am measured in what I say...

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I am making the point that the plan had been on the former Minister's desk for 18 months and might not have cost as much had goodwill be involved. Work has commenced on a €25 million development at Castletownbere, an €8 million development at Clogherhead and a €6 million development at Rossaveal, County Galway. The public consultation process to identify the best option has also...

Seanad: Mine Sites. (24 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The then Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, standing in for my predecessor, covered the subject of the proposed rehabilitation works required at Silvermines in some detail in a previous Adjournment debate on 7 July 2004. Since that date, Mogul of Ireland lodged its revised proposals for rehabilitation of the clause K sites with the...

Seanad: Mine Sites. (24 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: That may well be the case. The Department has been advised that it cannot continue to engage in dialogue after the papers have been served. It could be sub judice at that point. It will continue its dialogue until the comprehensive report has been delivered if that is helpful, but it will be guided by its legal advisers when deciding whether to continue. If it can continue I think it should...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (23 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Government has consistently ruled out buy-out as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks and instead promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve this objective. No convincing case has been advanced as to the public good that would be acquired by the State...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (23 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: No financial assistance is available for the setting up of local fishermen's co-operative societies. However, support is available for existing co-operative societies from Bord Iascaigh Mhara, under such measures as the supporting measure programme, the market investment programme and fish handling grants. I will arrange for further information to be forwarded to the Deputy in respect of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (23 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Under the Fisheries Acts, it is not illegal to kill pike taken from lakes and rivers. The conservation of pike by-law No. 667 of 1990 however prohibits the taking or killing by any person of more than one pike on any day and the taking or killing by any person of any pike exceeding 3 kg. This by-law also prohibits a person having in his or her possession more than one dead whole pike or,...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (16 Nov 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I understand from the Licensing Authority for Sea-Fishing Boats, established last year under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, that the vessel concerned, which was lost at sea in 1981, was the subject of an application to the Department in July 2001 under a limited scheme known as the lost at sea scheme. This scheme allowed successful applicants to use the capacity of fishing vessels lost...