Fishing Industry

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Questions (807)

Erin McGreehan

Question:

807. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the use of Irish-registered companies as vehicles to acquire Irish-registered fishing vessels and licences on behalf of non-EU or non-EEA nationals; if any risk assessment or review has been carried out on whether this practice complies with EU and national rules on ownership and control of fishing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6602/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The legislation governing sea-fishing boat licensing is set out in section 4 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 (the “2003 Act”), (as inserted by section 97 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006).

Under section 4 (6) of this Act, the Licensing Authority when licensing a vessel for a body corporate, must be given the name, address, and nationality of the beneficial owner or owners of the shares in, or of the person or persons who control the body corporate when applying for the licence or when there is any change in ownership or control while the licence is in force.

The Licensing Authority does not grant a sea-fishing boat licence to a body corporate unless established under and subject to the law of a Member State and having its principle place of business in a Member State or a state belonging to the European Union.