To ask the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that great distress exists at Howth because of the failure of the fishing industry there, in conformity with the failure of the same industry throughout Ireland; and whether, in view of this failure, he will put the recommendations embodied in the Fishing Report of the Commission of Inquiry, 1921, into effect.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - FAILURE OF FISHING INDUSTRY IN IRELAND.
I am aware that the results of the past season's fishing at Howth have proved very unprofitable to the fishermen—as to the drift net fishery because of the unsatisfactory market conditions, and as to the line and trawl fishery because of a shortage of fish on the fishing grounds. It is the case as the Deputy suggests, that fishing as an industry has been a failure on the Irish coasts in the last couple of years, and this is also true of many other countries where the fisheries are of economic importance. The rehabilitation of our national fisheries is one of many matters urgently calling for attention; and when, in the near future, a general scheme comes to be formulated, first consideration will naturally be given to the recommendations embodied in the report to which reference is made.