Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Transport the arrangements being put in place to discharge the commitment to reimburse the fishing boat owners for the huge costs involved in the search to locate the MFV Honeydew. [9110/08]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason there has been such a long delay in discharging the commitment to reimburse the fishing boat owners for the huge costs involved in the search to locate the MFV Honeydew; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9111/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 50 together.

Several fishing vessels joined the search for the Fishing Vessel Honeydew 11, which got into difficulty on 11th January 2007. These vessels were not tasked by the Irish Coast Guard but joined the search voluntarily. The Department of Transport made no commitment to compensate boat owners for the fuel expended during the course of the search. As a general rule vessels at sea are under an obligation to respond to a distress call at sea. The Department of Transport does not normally compensate vessels or craft of opportunity for the fuel that they have used nor is it international practice to do so.