Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1915. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagements he has had with other Departments to examine opportunities for fishermen to allow for transferability of their licences between fishing and non-fishing activities, which, in the instance of offshore wind, would allow skippers to carry out maintenance and remedial works on renewable infrastructure on some days and fish others days; the amount per fisherman such an initiative may cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Licencing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats (‘the Licensing Authority’) was established under the Fisheries Amendment Act of 2003 to provide for a licensing system for sea fishing boats.  The Licensing Authority operates on an independent basis subject to national and EU legislation and Ministerial Policy Directives.  The Licencing Authority is not empowered to vary the requirements set out in any such legislation, or any policy directive or scheme. 

The Authority deals with all individual licensing cases. The Act specifically prohibits me as Minister from exercising “any power or control in relation to any particular case or group of cases with which the Licensing Authority is or may be concerned”.

The safety of fishing vessels and safety certification is the responsibility of the Department of Transport. My Department has no function in relation to the safety certification of fishing vessels.

The Department of Transport is also the competent authority in relation to the licensing of ships to engage in commercial non fishing activities, related to renewable energy infrastructure of other commercial activities.