asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state for what reason a permit to import fresh herrings was granted to a fish merchant in County Donegal for the week ending 3rd November, 1951, when ample supplies of prime fresh herrings were available at Bunbeg.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import of Fresh Herrings (Donegal).
Two licences to import fresh herrings during the week ended 3rd November were issued to fish merchants in County Donegal on Saturday, 27th October, subject to the condition in each case that the licence would be used only if the licensee failed to secure his full requirements from home landings. Landings of herrings were made in Donegal in the week ended 3rd November and the licences were not used.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what arrangements there are for marketing gluts of herring landed at Donegal ports and in particular whether licences to import fresh herrings are granted when there are ample supplies of home-landed herring available.
The Sea Fisheries Association are arranging to market fresh herring to the greatest extent possible and, also, to purchase quantities for kippering, curing and cold storing. It is hoped that the purchases made by the association, with those of the other buyers, will enable the landings in Donegal to be cleared. As to the second part of the question, licences to import herring are not granted when home landings are available.