Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the situation regarding the licence, kilowatt and tonnage allocation for Atlantis WD 44. [22077/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Licensing Authority established under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 has informed me that an application for a sea-fishing boat licence in respect of a vessel and a proposal to use the capacity of the "Atlantis" as replacement capacity for the purpose of licensing this vessel was received by him on 5 April 2006 and a licence offer for the vessel was issued on 26 April 2006.

The "Atlantis" had been de-registered on 26 May 2004 and, in accordance with Policy Directive 2/2003, the capacity of this vessel expired on 25 May 2006. A letter had been issued to the applicant on 28 October 2005 confirming the amount of capacity credited to him in respect of the "Atlantis" and pointing out that it must be re-introduced onto the Irish Fishing Boat Register by 25 May 2006.

The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 does not give power to the Licensing Authority to vary the requirements of a Policy Directive, such as to extend the two-year period of validity of off-register capacity. The Licensing Authority is therefore precluded from granting an extension of the period of validity of the capacity of a vessel.