Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I will not ask for the old chestnut, a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as the Leader has already promised to arrange such a debate. Will he arrange a debate with the Minister for Transport on the certificate of compliance with the code of safety for small vessels, a matter I discussed some time ago?

Currently, there are 63 trawlers, each employing approximately four crew, tied up around our coastline, from Ros an Mhíl to Kerry, Cork, Waterford and into Wexford. The situation is ludicrous. I ask for an urgent debate with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, because this is not a fisheries issue. In the first place, the marine survey office, which dictates the pace regarding certificates of compliance, is understaffed. If all the boats in question required certificates in the morning they would not be able to get them. Second, these boats are tied up now because the deadline was the last day of September. Third, approximately 200 families are concerned, around the coastline. Some of them land the fish we eat every day and that is available in our shops and restaurants. These are small vessels but they are being asked to comply with regulations that affect large sea-going vessels which can travel for weeks and months at sea. The boats which concern me are called day trippers and are 15 to 18 metres in length. It is a disgrace that these family owned vessels are now tied up at piers, whether in Union Hall, Baltimore, Schull, Castletownbere, Ros an Mhíl, Dingle, Kilmore Quay or wherever.

I urge the Minister responsible, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to come to the House and debate this issue. I see no reason a temporary licence could not be given to these vessels. They are family owned and are not going to go to sea with sons or other family members taking any risks. Most of these vessels are fully seaworthy and have complied with all kinds of codes of practice. This is an extra layer of bureaucracy. In many instances the owners have to get finance to comply with this code but the banks will not listen to or entertain them. When we are crying out for jobs it is ludicrous that some 200 families along our coastline are now idle. I feel very strongly about this issue because money was supplied under the Cawley report for decommissioning four or five years ago. There is money left over in the Department of Finance which should be utilised to help these small fishing vessel owners to go to sea, catch their fish and make a living. The day is not far short when we will have to depend on imports from Iceland and faraway places to provide the fish we take for granted.

I ask the Leader to provide such a debate, if it is possible. It will only take a couple of hours because I am sure there will not be many speakers. I can promise-----