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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Jul 1936

Vol. 63 No. 12

Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Activities of French Fishing Trawlers.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that French fishing boats have been fishing within a short distance of the Island of Achill since last March; that they have cleared the coast of lobster and crayfish, and have taken away the local fishermen's gear, including nets and lobster pots, with the result that eight crews engaged fishing between Keel and Dooagh from March last were unable to make a livelihood and had to remove their boats and gear and go to England for a living, and if he will state what steps, if any, were taken by his Department in response to the appeals for protection made by the local fishermen during the period.

No complaint as to illegal fishing by French boats off Achill reached my Department during the months of March and April. In the month of May three reports were received from the Achill-Blacksod area, which seemed to refer to the presence of the same two vessels when observed off different points of that coastline during the first week of that month. In June reports came to hand on two occasions as to alleged illegal fishing by two French vessels. From the statistical returns received for the months of May and June I am satisfied that there are no grounds for the suggestion that the lobster and crayfish have been cleared off that part of our coast. I have no information as to the gear of local fishermen having been taken by foreign boats. I have no particulars to indicate that there has been abnormal migration from the Achill district since March last. The fishery cruiser patrolled the Achill-Blacksod area during the first week in June, again in the last week in June, and again in the week ended 11th instant. During the greater part of May the cruiser had been undergoing repairs.

Is the Minister aware that foreign trawlers are coming in and taking away the means of livelihood of the fishermen all along our west coast, not alone in the Achill area, but along the west coast of Donegal, Mayo and Kerry, and is he not in a position to do anything to protect the livelihood of these people?

Dr. Ryan

Does the Deputy mean within the territorial waters?

Yes. I mean so close that you can almost throw a stone from the shore out to the trawler.

Dr. Ryan

I am not aware that that is general.

Does the Minister seriously tell the House that he is not aware that that is general and that it is a cause of universal complaint amongst the entire fishing population of this country? Does he not recollect that, when he was in opposition, he delivered tempestuous speeches all through the west of Ireland about what he would do when he got into office? Would the Minister not tell the House, now that he is in office, what he is going to do to redeem the undertakings he gave to those fishermen when he was asking for their votes?

Dr. Ryan

I never remember speaking in the west of Ireland, tempestuously or otherwise.

Would the Minister take steps to compensate the fishermen along the coast whose gear and lobster pots have been taken by these trawlers?

Dr. Ryan

I have told the Deputy that I was not informed by any fisherman down there that he had lost his gear.

I can inform the Minister that his Department was informed.

Dr. Ryan

And I can tell the Deputy that I was not.

If the Minister gets such information, does he hold himself ready to recommend to the Minister for Finance some compensation for those fishermen who have lost their gear, as a result of the Minister's failure to protect them in the legitimate prosecution of their business?

Dr. Ryan

That is a very hypothetical question, and very dangerous.

But if the losses alleged by Deputy Nally have taken place, will the Minister recommend to the Minister for Finance the payment of compensation, to be measured by an arbitrator, for the amount of the fishermen's losses?

Dr. Ryan

Probably not.

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