asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the length of net allowed for salmon fishing from Youghal Bridge to Ardmore is not sufficient to allow reasonable opportunity to fishermen to earn a living and maintain their families, and whether he will have an early inquiry set up to report on the matter before next season so that he will be in a position to make an order permitting the use of a net of a length sufficient to meet reasonably the fishermen's needs at Youghal and elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salmon Fishing Regulations at Youghal.
My attention has previously been drawn by Deputy Little to the dissatisfaction of local netsmen with regard to the length of net permitted for use in salmon fishing in the estuary of the Blackwater river under the existing by-law. I am not empowered under the provisions of the fisheries code to modify that by-law unless it can be shown that any such modifications would be likely to result in benefit to the fisheries of the river as a whole. If the netsmen concerned will furnish me with a written statement showing, prima facie, that a case exists for investigation of the matter on that basis, I will arrange to have a public inquiry held.
Mr. Broderick
The Minister is basing the necessity for an inquiry on the point that they have got to show that it would be to the benefit of the fisheries as a whole?
That is right. That is the legal position.
Mr. Broderick
Well, the position is that the Minister has the authority to make the order. For the moment, I am not concerned so much with the general welfare as with the opportunities of the fishermen in that river, and I would ask the Minister to see that an inquiry is set up. Bad as the conditions were last year, the fishing of that portion of the river will end altogether unless those men get the extension which they demand. I do not wish to make a speech on the matter, but I am sure it is not the Minister's wish that those men should be deprived of their way of living?
Certainly not.
Mr. Broderick
Will the Minister give any undertaking to get an inquiry held?
As I pointed out to the Deputy, I cannot set up a public inquiry unless I am satisfied that there is prima facie evidence that what the fishermen ask would lead to an improvement in the fisheries in general. I am just giving that information to the Deputy so that he may frame his request.
Has not the Minister already received the information that the length of the net is absolutely inadequate?
That would appear to me to be prima facie evidence that if the net were lengthened it might deteriorate the fisheries rather than improve them.
Mr. Broderick
The reasons for which the Minister will grant the inquiry absolutely negative the whole position.
I do not think so.