asked the Minister for Agriculture if will state (a) the price paid for the three German trawlers purchased by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara recently, and (b) if those boats were submitted to efficiency trials prior to purchase by technical experts; and, if so, the names of those experts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Trawlers.
The price paid by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara for the three trawlers recently purchased by them in Germany was £50,250. The vessels were surveyed by a marine surveyor of the Department of Industry and Commerce prior to purchase.
Is it a fact, as we have been led to believe it is, that these vessels were reconditioned prior to coming to this country? If so, why are they now in the Dublin docks for outfit?
They came through a storm.
The Government is in a storm at the moment.
When does the Parliamentary Secretary expect the boats to start operating?
Almost immediately.
This side of Christmas?
Yes.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary intend to keep them permanently at sea?
Yes.
From Killybegs?
Not necessarily from Killybegs. As the exigencies of fishing demand, I take it that the board will dispose of them around the coast according to a definite plan. I want to assure Deputy O'Donnell that they are not in the Dublin docks; they have not reached Dublin.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether the trawlers purchased by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are intended to supplement the catches of inshore fishermen; and, if so, if he will ensure that these fishermen will get first preference in the Dublin market.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, I have no power to regulate sales on the Dublin Wholesale Fish Market, but I can assure the Deputy that the operations of the trawlers in question will be governed by the policy that the interests of the inshore fishermen must be safeguarded.
What happens suppose the trawlers land sufficient fish to glut the Dublin market? What will the inshore fishermen then do with their catches?
I do not know whether the Deputy is aware that four steam trawlers have been removed from the service of the Dublin market.
Is the Parliamentary secretary referring to the four old "crocks" that used to belong to the Dublin Ice and Cold Storage Company? I understood that the Parliamentary Secretary had purchased three modern up-to-date trawlers. Suppose they land fish sufficient to flood the Dublin market, what are the inshore fishermen going to do with their catches?
Surely the Deputy must be aware that we are importing large quantities of fresh fish every week and are trying to supplement imports by home landings?
I am aware of that. What I am asking is: if these trawlers bring home a full load of fish and thereby flood the Dublin market, what will become of the inshore fishermen and their catches? At present, it is only when the catches by the inshore fishermen are inadequate to meet the demands of the Dublin market that the Sea Fisheries Association buy fish to meet the demand, but now that these trawlers are to come in, what is to happen to the catches of the inshore fishermen, if the former glut the Dublin market with their landings?
Surely that is not a question.
That is an issue that has not yet materialised. It was on the basis of the fishery authority's experience that they made the decision to get those trawlers.