I notice that during the contests that have just taken place throughout the country a great deal of lopsided financial propositions were dealt with, sometimes in publications, and at other times by speakers. Amongst the rest, in some parts of the country this particular Ministry may have been under discussion. It would appear from an examination of the estimates for Fisheries that there was some extraordinary extravagance and that where development is only put down for £3,000 the total gross cost of the Ministry would be £55,500.
I spoke to the Minister for Fisheries a couple of days ago and told him that, so far as I could see, his particular Ministry would be probably criticised and that its retention would probably be questioned in the Dáil. In considering this particular Ministry one ought to bear in mind what the circumstances of the moment are, and what they have been for the past few years, not alone in this country, but in England, Scotland, and on the Continent. One should see how the fisheries developed or how the industry of fishing progressed in England during the last couple of years and what its condition is to-day: We should take stock of our particular position with regard to this industry.
I understand there is no country in Europe with such a coast line suitable for fisheries as we have, and I suppose there is no country in Europe where the fishing industry is at such a low ebb as it is in this country. That there are potentialities in the fisheries of this country, both internal and external, I think everybody will admit. Even if there is not sufficient money available to develop fisheries, surely it is not waste of money to have a Minister appointed who will consider how it is best to accommodate the expenses of such development with the financial condition of the country. I have gone through the report which I have got from the Minister for Fisheries on this subject, and in it attention is drawn to the fact that the fishing industry not alone in Ireland, but in Great Britain, was at its lowest ebb during the last twelve months. It was due to three causes. The European markets, it appears, were disorganised through political upheavals. Mackerel was not in demand in the big centres of population in England since these markets were flooded with fish carried on the steam trawling fleets which had just begun to operate after the war, and even these steam trawling companies were unable to make ends meet. The general conditions prevailing in Ireland during 1922 did not lend themselves to the development of an industry such as that of fishing, which requires prompt delivery and excellent transit and accommodation, more than is supplied by the ordinary times of the departure and arrival of trains that one sees in the railway companies notices. It is well known that the loss of a train may possibly involve enormous loss to persons engaged in this calling. The Minister has shown me tables dealing with the number of English, Scottish and Irish steam vessels. In England the number is over 2,000, in Scotland it is nearly 1,000, and in Ireland 11. Motor vessels in England number 468, in Scotland over 2,000, and in Ireland 291. Sailing vessels in England number over 500, in Scotland over 4,000, and in Ireland the number is written down as 3,089, and it is remarked underneath that that number includes 1,639 rowing boats. The report goes on to say what has been done even under these very depressing and unusual conditions. It states that the fishing season opened last spring, and the task was to induce the fishermen to go to sea. Many boat-owners had no nets fit for fishing. Their gear had become worn out in fruitless efforts in 1921, and they had no means to buy new ones. Loans were given by the Ministry to equip the Arklow fleet for the south-west mackerel season which opened in April, and even with the provision of gear they were unwilling to undertake the voyage to Baltimore and other places, as the railway service from Cork to those fishing places was still suspended. The Ministry was compelled to set up a scheme for the transit of these catches to the nearest port to the Welsh markets. The catches were sold in bulk in Milford Haven by a salesmaster, but the scheme did not prove a financial success, as the fish were late in striking the coast, and the weather was wet and stormy and unsuitable for fishing. Now, the Ministry apparently was satisfied that were it not for the little assistance given in that instance it would have been impossible, if a good deal of the expenses were not available for use in the proper channels, to have got these particular facilities. Loans, it appears, were made available at Howth, and, generally speaking, from a perusal of this report I would say that the Ministry has not been idle. To my mind the actual sum that would be saved by not having a Minister appointed to this particular activity would not be a financial proposition, and I would be very glad if, in considering financial propositions, a little more study of the fundamentals of finance were given. I have observed in some publications—if I may digress for a moment—that comparisons are made between the cost of the services in 1923 and in 1916. A child in the matter of finance would tell you that it was much less expensive to live in 1916 than it now. Comparisons such as these mislead not alone the unfortunate dupe who conceives the idea of making such comparisons, but also mislead others. They do not lead anywhere, and they would not be altered if the persons issuing these publications were trying to do here what we have been trying to do for the last twelve months. Two points have been under discussion on the question of this Ministry. One is whether a Minister should be appointed at all, and another is, whether the particular Minister who has been in charge of this Ministry should be re-elected. That is not the point. The point is, that there are four Ministries put for ward by me, the holders of which will have to be recommended by a Committee of fifteen Deputies in accordance with Article 55 of the Constitution. I should say that if the Minister for Fisheries had his way a very much larger sum of money would have been included in the Estimates, but whether it is his great respect for me as Minister for Finance, or the power I had over Estimates, they were cut down. It is a very small amount. It may be, even in the exceptional circumstances through which we passed, that fishing was not economical, it is just as well that the amount was small. But there ought to be great opportunities for development, and I think every member is satisfied that there are such opportunities, and if that be so I think they warrant the appointment of such a Ministry.