The Fishing Boats (Electronic Transmission of Fishing Activities Data) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Scheme)

This Scheme makes provision for the payment of grants in respect of eligible Northern Ireland sea fishing boats as a contribution towards the cost of purchase or supply of approved computer software to facilitate the recording and transmission of fishing logbook data, transhipment declaration data, and landing declaration data, electronically in accordance with Articles 15, 22 and 24 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.

Funds for the payment of grants under this Scheme are provided for under Council Regulation (EC) No. 861/2006 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 391/2007.

Paragraph 3 requires the Department to publish a list of approved software and the suppliers of the software.

Paragraph 4 requires the Department to publish invitations to apply for grant and the conditions for making applications.

Paragraph 5 describes the persons who are eligible to apply for a grant.

Paragraph 6 deals with applications for grant and specifies the circumstances under which applications may be accepted after the closing date for receipt of applications.

Paragraph 7 sets out the procedure for the Department to approve or reject applications.

Paragraph 8 provides for the review of a decision to reject an application.

Paragraph 9 deals with conditions for payment of a grant and paragraph 10 specifies restrictions on the amount of grant to be paid.

Paragraph 11 describes conditions under which the Department may withhold a grant or any part of it and, where payment of grant has already been made, recover from the applicant an amount equal to the grant paid.

Paragraph 12 provides for the charging of interest on grant that is to be recovered.

Section 17 of the Fisheries Act 1981 creates offences in respect of the production of false statements or documents in purported compliance with any requirement imposed by any Scheme made under Part II of the Fisheries Act 1981 and wilful refusal to supply information, make returns or produce documents when required to do so by or under the Scheme.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for this rule as it has no direct impact on the costs of businesses, charities or the voluntary sector.