asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will take steps to have the present method of resumption of possession of Irish Sea Fisheries Association boats altered so as to entitle defaulters who are members of the association to a refund of the capital repayments made by them to the association; and, further, whether he will introduce a scheme whereby the cases of defaulting members will be submitted to arbitration before possession of boats is resumed by the association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Fisheries Boats.
It has been the experience of the Sea Fisheries Association in cases of the kind referred to by the Deputy that the payments made by the defaulting member in reduction of the issue price of the boat are less than the depreciation of the boat while in his hands. Furthermore, considerable expenditure by the association is usually necessary on reconditioning the boat for issue on hire purchase to another member.
In view of these conditions, and as the association is responsible for the repayment of the moneys advanced by the Exchequer for the supply of boats and gear to its members, it is not possible to take action as suggested by the Deputy.