asked the Minister for Agriculture whether contracts for the building of fishing boats have been placed with firms in Scotland and Germany by the Irish Sea Fisheries Association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Contracts for Fishing Boats.
The Sea Fisheries Association placed orders for new inshore fishing boats in Scotland when it was necessary to do so, and all the orders have been completed. The association's successor, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, has not placed any orders in Scotland, but it is negotiating for the purchase of three deep-sea fishing vessels in Germany.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House of the approximate date on which these contracts were placed?
You mean in respect of the building? The last contract was placed in January, 1951.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary indicate the size of the deep-sea fishing trawlers which have been constructed in Germany?
No boats have been specially built to the order of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara in Germany. The board decided that, for very special reasons, they should get a few deep-sea boats as quickly as possible and it so happened that boats of a very suitable kind became available in Germany. They made arrangements to purchase them. The over-all length of the boats is approximately 100 feet.
I am very glad to hear that.