Minister of State for the Marine Pat "the Cope" Gallagher is due to hold talks with Irish fishing industry representatives in Brussels tonight before an EU fisheries council review of the fuel price crisis tomorrow.
France, Italy and Spain have already introduced measures to assist vessel owners affected by the price hike, and the Minister of State has said that he is "keenly aware" of the "considerable difficulties" the price rise has caused around the Irish coastline.
Costs have risen from 25 cents to 55 cents a litre over the past 18 months, and the fuel bill now represents about 50 to 60 per cent of the average vessel's turnover, Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (IS&WFO) said yesterday. "Given that support measures have been introduced in other EU member states, we are operating at a competitive disadvantage, and the situation is causing considerable hardship in many ports."
EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has approved short-term tie-ups of vessels for fuel reasons, but State compensation for this is bound by the "de minimis" guidelines which allow a maximum payment of €3,000 over three years per vessel. Any payments over this figure must be referred to Brussels.
The European Commission is investigating the scheme of direct aid to fishermen in France, but is also examining five potential fuel support measures for fleets in all member states. If the "de minimis" ruling is revised, Ireland could provide compensation from existing fisheries budgets.
The three main Irish organisations, the IS&WFO, the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation and the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation have welcomed the Minister's invitation to meet them be- fore tomorrow's fisheries coun- cil, and have stressed that long-term measures are also required.
Six fishing vessels are to be auctioned in two lots by a Cork auctioneer later this month - two on behalf of the State. One of the vessels, the 26-metre MV Burghley, is Spanish-owned and was detained several years ago for alleged illegal fishing. The 24-metre Slieve Bloom is being sold on behalf of the Department of the Marine for non-payment of harbour dues at Howth, Co Dublin.
Four other whitefish vessels are being auctioned on behalf of private owners according to auctioneer Dominic Daly. The Howth auction takes place on September 27th, and the five other craft will be up for bids at Castletownbere, Co Cork, on September 29th.
In a separate development, the State's obligation to accept registry ships and other vessels which may not be in safe condition is to be examined by the Department of Marine.
Small boats, including leisure craft, which have so far been exempt from registry may also be included in a single register, under proposals published by the Minister. Submissions are invited by December 16th and Mr Gallagher's proposals are on website www.dcmnr.ie.