asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been directed to the fact that 1,100 half-barrels and 100 barrels of herrings are lying outdoors at Downings, County Donegal; and if he will indicate what steps are being taken to dispose of them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Herrings (County Donegal).
The cured herrings referred to are the property of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara who, I understand, are taking all possible steps to sell them on satisfactory terms.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that private enterprise has been able to dispose of similar herrings but that they were sold to countries behind the Iron Curtain? Will he agree, in view of his recent pronouncements, that they should sell these herrings to Russia?
I can assure the Deputy that all possible steps will be taken to dispose of these herrings.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what kind of barrels were used to hold the herrings in question?
The Deputy was Parliamentary Secretary for three years and he should know.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's very inadequate reply, can he state whether there is any truth in the story current in Donegal that the barrels used were fruit barrels and not herring barrels?
That does not seem to arise on the question.
Put the herrings in the barrels.
Interruptions.
But what about the story?
I should like to inform the Deputy that we are concerned with the marketing of the herrings, not the barrels.