Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the proposed decommissioning scheme for whitefish trawlers (details supplied) will include mechanisms to provide the crews of these trawlers with adequate compensatory measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27892/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The fundamental aim of the fishing vessel scrapping scheme, recently announced, is to secure the permanent withdrawal of excess capacity in both the whitefish and shellfish sectors. The withdrawal premia payable under the scheme are the maximum permitted by EU regulations and are related specifically to the permanent removal of the fishing vessels concerned from the EU register of sea fishing vessels. The scheme implements the recommendations of the Padraic White report, Decommissioning Requirements for Ireland's Demersal and Shellfish fleets, presented to me in early July. The report does not provide for the payment to the crews of the vessels concerned.

While the scrapping scheme will remove boats from the fleet right around the coast, the majority of the fleet will continue fishing and will continue to need crew. Many skippers have great difficulty securing crew as there is an overall shortage reflecting the strong performance of the economy generally. In this situation, good opportunities remain for crew members whose current boats are leaving the fleet.