John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hours expended by senior officials in his Department both at national and EU level to secure a licence for a boat (details supplied) in the period 1999 to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52540/18]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of temporary fishing licences issued for a boat (details supplied) until a permanent licence was secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52541/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

The Atlantic Dawn Company applied to introduce the MFV "Atlantic Dawn" SO914 into the Irish fleet under EU rules as set out in Council Decision 413/97 (1997 – 2002) concerning the management of the capacity of European fishing fleets.

The MFV Atlantic Dawn entered the Irish fishing fleet in August, 2000.  The vessel operated on a succession of 11 short term fishing boat licences (August 2000 – March 2002) pending resolution of certain issues with the European Commission.  At that time the vessel was precluded from fishing in E.U. waters under the terms of its short term licences and during this period operated in Mauritanian waters under a private agreement between the vessel owner and the Mauritanian authorities.

In January 2002 the Commission adopted a formal decision approving the licensing and registration of the Atlantic Dawn vessel to fish in E.U. waters.

Departmental staff carried out its normal official functions in regard to this application. The Department does not record the number of hours expended on this or any other application.