asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what steps he proposes to take to obviate the persistent poaching of foreign trawlers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Poaching by Foreign Trawlers.
On the 2nd June last when speaking on the Estimate for the Department of Defence, I gave full particulars of the position concerning the allegations of poaching by foreign trawlers. May I refer the Deputy to that discussion?
The Minister has only to take a drive round the coastline of the South and West of Ireland to see a great number of foreign trawlers at various times of the year well within the three-mile limit. I put down the question to see if the Minister could give us any information as to whether he contemplates a helicopter service or some use of the Air Corps for the purpose of inter-communication between these and the patrol vessels for the purpose of catchingthese people. The manner in which information is now transmitted makes it almost impossible to convey information in such a way that it can be acted upon in time.
The opinion of the experts who examined this question is that the present system is far superior to any system which could be carried out as a result of the use of the air service. As the Deputy may know, the present system is that if there is deemed to be anything in the nature of poaching within the three-mile limit— there is tremendous difficulty in deciding whether these vessels are within the limit or not—the Garda are almost in direct communication with a unit who can inform the headquarters and as a result of wireless communication, if a vessel of ours is nearby, direct communication with the vessel is immediately made and steps taken to deal with the matter. To date, there have been 17 or more arrests made by that method. I am satisfied that we are not getting any serious complaints from the Garda now and seamen and other people are watching these vessels very closely.
Is the Minister not aware that the method of informing the Guards and the subsequent transfer of that information to our patrol vessels, even by wireless, can be readily detected by most foreign trawlers because they are now suitably equipped to pick up these messages?
If they can pick up the wireless messages, there is very little we can do about it.