asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he intends to institute a research station in Connemara to promote the study of marine biology, botany, etc.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Research Station for Connemara.
It is not my intention to establish a laboratory for research into marine biology, botany, etc., in the complete sense, but a proposal to set up a fisheries research laboratory is under consideration.
Is it the Parliamentary Secretary's intention to associate it with the existing services for the study of seaweed and the like obtaining in Galway University?
I am not quite satisfied that the botanical part of such research would properly come within the Department of Fisheries. There is a laboratory at Lough Ine, Skibbereen, County Cork, in which this work is being carried on, but in any event research into fish biology is a matter that is receiving the consideration of the fisheries branch.
May I urge on the Parliamentary Secretary that he should advert to the fact that the study of seaweed and seaweed conditions is indissolubly associated with marine biology problems, and that there are some quite distinguished scientists in this highly technical branch in University College, Galway, whose services ought to be co-ordinated and availed of before they are taken away from us by the marine station in Scotland, which is studying these problems?
The Deputy is probably right, but seeing that the botany department is more or less under the supervision of the Gaeltacht services branch, the fisheries people for the present have decided to confine themselves to fish biology.
Perhaps we should invoke the help of Deputy Lynch to co-ordinate you.