asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether it was customary, prior to the recent war, for fishermen in this State to obtain supplies of gear direct from cross-Channel manufacturers; if he is aware that for some considerable time past these fishermen have been forced to get gear from the Irish Sea Fisheries Association, that being the only body in the State having an import licence for such articles; if he has received any complaints from fishermen which suggest that the available supplies are not distributed fairly among applicants; and if so, what action, if any, he has taken to remove causes of grievance, both in regard to excessive price of gear and unfair distribution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Fishing Gear.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative. Since 1944 the British authorities restricted supplies of fishing nets and twines to a fixed annual quantity which was not sufficient to meet our full requirements. Under an arrangement agreed with the British authorities, my Department certifies each order placed with British and Northern Ireland manufacturers. A certain proportion of the quota is placed at the disposal of the Irish Sea Fisheries Association Limited to meet the needs of its members. Applicants who are members of the association are referred to that body in the first instance. Applications from fishermen who are not members of the association as well as those of members who cannot be conveniently facilitated through the association are certified by my Department up to the limit of the quantity of gear available. I have not received complaints suggesting that the available supplies are not distributed fairly among applicants or that the prices charged by the association are excessive. I have no control of prices charged by manufacturers in respect of orders placed with them by fishermen. As from the beginning of this year supplies of fishing gear made from hemp or flax are not subject to control and fishermen requiring gear of either of these fibres are free to place their orders direct with manufacturers.
In the case of fishermen who are not members of the Sea Fisheries Association, will the Minister say if they can get supplies of gear from the merchants to whom they sell their fish, the merchants getting the supply from the manufacturers?
There is no objection to their doing so.