asked the Minister for External Affairs if any formal steps have been taken by him to have the dispute which has arisen over the Foyle Fisheries examined in a definite manner with a view to a settlement; if so, will he state the nature of the steps taken; and, if not, why not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foyle Fisheries Dispute.
The examination of the matters at issue in the Lough Foyle Fisheries dispute is still in progress. It would not help towards the end in view to make any statement of the nature required by the Deputy at this stage.
May I ask the Minister, until such time as negotiations are completed, if he is prepared to make it clear to the House that he will not tolerate any attempt on the part of the Northern Government or any outside authority to interfere with the rights of the fishermen earning their livelihood by fishing in the waters of Lough Foyle?
That is too hypothetical a question.
May I point out that it is not a hypothetical question, but a question of fact.
May I ask the Deputy to advert to the terms of his own question? Does he mean "earning their livelihood" in a legal or in an illegal fashion?
I think the Minister is quibbling. I asked him if he was prepared to hinder the Northern Government—if I may put it that way—from carrying out a decree they got in the Northern Courts against the fishermen who are earning their livelihood on the waters of Lough Foyle
They cannot carry out that decree.
Is the Minister prepared to take steps to see that they will not interfere with the fishermen?
No.
Might I ask the Minister whether he means "legal" under Irish law or under Free State law?
"Legal" means under law.
Does the Minister insinuate that the action of those fishermen in fishing in Lough Foyle is illegal according to Free State law?
I did not insinuate anything. The Courts may decide that.
Does the Minister maintain that we have no territorial rights?
No.
Is the Minister prepared to see that our territorial rights are safeguarded?
Whatever territorial rights we have will be safeguarded.
By whom.
By this Government.
Apparently then we do not know how we stand or what our territorial rights are.
That is a question to be decided.