asked the President if he will state what steps have been taken to protect Donegal fishermen fishing in Lough Foyle under licences granted to them by the Moville Board of Conservators.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rights of Donegal Fishermen.
Informal discussions took place during the year 1931 between officials of the Department of External Affairs and officials of the Dominion Office in London, with a view to arriving at an interim arrangement for the administration of the waters of Lough Foyle pending a settlement of the dispute as to the right to the several fishery. It was hoped than an interim arrangement pending settlement could be arrived at without prejudice to the general question of jurisdiction over the waters of the Lough, but the hope has so far not been justified. Since the present Government came into office, it has not been possible to deal with this matter, but I am arranging to have the whole situation re-examined by the law officers.
Arising out of that answer, which I might remark is no answer to my question, I want to know what steps will be taken to protect the fishermen in Lough Foyle for the current fishing season which is opening next month? That is my immediate purpose in putting down the question.
That will be immediately dealt with once we have the position made clear by the law advisers. I want to examine the situation myself.