Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason persons (details supplied) in County Mayo were refused licences for traditional pot fishing boats. [23257/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 the function of sea-fishing boat licensing was 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 section 3 of that Act. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are now considered by the licensing authority for sea-fishing boats.

The licensing authority has informed me that the reasons why the persons referred to by the Deputy were refused licences are set out in the letters which informed them of the decisions on their applications. I am also informed that the persons concerned have appealed the refusals to appeals officers appointed under the 2003 Act and that those appeals have not yet been determined.