Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include two fishing ports (details supplied) in the list of merchant shipping registry of ports in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43227/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Pursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), my Department owns and directly manages the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres including those located at Dingle and Castletownbere.

The appointment of home ports of registry for fishing boats is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and governed by the Merchant Shipping Acts.

The provisions of Section 30 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Act 2013 provide that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport may appoint a port of registry on the basis of (i) sufficient demand for such an appointment, and/or (ii) the importance of the location for commercial shipping traffic or business, fishing, recreational or other maritime activity, and/or (iii) the geographical location of the port, and/or (iv) the level of maritime activity with regard to shipping at the port.

 While the above powers of appointment are entirely the responsibility of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and are not within my remit, my Department will assist by providing any statistical information available that might be required by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for the purpose of any home port appointments he may wish to consider.