asked the Minister for Agriculture what steps An Bord Iascaigh Mhara have taken to ensure continuity of supply and co-ordination of distribution of fresh fish to rural areas during the present Lenten season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fresh Fish Supplies.
I am informed by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara that supplies of fresh fish have been reasonably adequate to meet demands during the present Lenten season and that distribution through the normal trade channels has been satisfactory. Any occasional shortages that have occurred have been met by imports arranged by the board.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that throughout the length and breadth of rural Ireland on a Friday, not to speak of the additional fast days in Lent, there is not a reasonable supply of fresh fish?
In the main I think I can accept the Deputy's statement and to meet that situation we have already added three large boats to the fleet. There is, of course, a question of better organised distribution. That is being attended to.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that on at least three occasions within the past three years a promise has been given to improve the distribution of fresh fish and to guarantee the continuity of delivery to rural Ireland? Nevertheless, we are now told the matter is still under consideration.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider, in the co-ordination and improvement of distribution of fresh fish, making use of creamery stocks and creamery facilities for the distribution of that fish?
The Deputy is no doubt aware that the distribution of fish is mainly in the hands of private traders. It is hardly fair to assume that that distribution has broken down even if it is not satisfactory or as satisfactory as we would wish it to be. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara does not propose to get into the business of distributing fish as a retailer but I will do what I can to co-ordinate the existing machinery of distribution and continue to encourage its efforts in that direction.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that fish caught in Cork and off the Cork coast, instead of going straight to the Cork market, is sent to Dublin and is then distributed back into the fastnesses of Bantry and Glengariff into the hotels down there? Is that not a chaotic system?
I agree with Deputy Collins that that has been going on for a long number of years. I also agree with him that it is an anomaly that should be removed at the earliest possible moment but he himself appreciates that if a fisherman desires to send his fish to the Dublin market, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara has no power to prevent his doing so. All we can do is to offer him as many inducements as possible to ensure that he will sell his fish locally. For that purpose, it is intended to have some more auction markets than at present exist but that will not in itself solve the problem.