asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state on what date it is proposed to introduce the promised Bill for the revaluation of certain loans advanced to fishermen.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revaluation of Fishermen's Loans.
I am unable at the moment to fix a date for the introduction of this Bill.
Are we to understand, therefore, that the Minister does not hope to be able to report in the immediate future to the House that the Departmental Committee has dealt with all the cases of outstanding loans?
The Committee has dealt with all the cases and has reported. The report is before the Department of Finance and my Department. I hope to have the Bill introduced shortly, but it is imposible for me to fix a date. I may introduce it before Christmas, that is, to give it a first reading, and to circulate it during the recess. There will be very little material in it, but there will be a considerable amount of scheduling.
Will the Minister see that the pressure which is being brought to bear on the fishermen will be stopped in the meantime?
Is the Minister aware that his Department stressed in a report some years ago and in the last annual report that the delay in this matter was the chief cause in retarding the restoration of healthy conditions in the fishing industry?
I quite agree. At the same time in regard to what has been stated by Deputy Aiken and Deputy Fahy, there has been in fact no undue pressure in cases where there were any merits. There were cases in which there were no merits and where the Department had to press.