asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is a fact that herrings have recently been supplied in large quantities to the Dublin markets from Scotch and Norwegian sources while Irish fishermen have found great difficulty in disposing of their herring catches, and seeing that some of the boats thus manned by Irish nationals have been equipped by the Irish taxpayer through the Sea Fisheries Association, will he take steps by quota orders or otherwise to restrict the landing of foreign herrings while sufficient supplies are available from Irish owned and Irish manned boats.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposing of Irish Herring Catches.
it is true that, in the absence of home supplies, considerable quantities of herrings from the sources named in this question have recently been dealt with in the Dublin fish market. The only landings of herrings by our own fishermen during the month of March were those made in the Kinsale area, and I am surprised to learn that difficulty was experienced in disposing of the moderate quantity landed there. In the circumstances I feel that the taking of steps such as those suggested in the latter part of the question are not immediately necessary. The matter of the regulation of the supplies of fish for the home market is, however, under consideration.
And has been for the past seven years.
For the past hundred years, and will be for another hundred.
If the Minister is there.
Yes.