asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the Six-County Ministry of Commerce propose to erect two hydro-electricity generating stations at Mulvin and Sion Mills, on the River Mourne, and, if so, what action he proposes to take to ensure that salmon fishing and salmon spawning beds in waters owned by the Foyle Fishery Commission will not be destroyed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foyle Fisheries.
I am aware that the Ministry of Commerce, Belfast, has published a hydro-electric scheme for the River Mourne but, I understand, that a definite decision has not been made to proceed with it. I am informed that the proposals are at present under consideration by the Foyle Fisheries Commission and that the commission will in accordance with their statutory responsibilities make such representations as may be necessary for the preservation of the fisheries of the Foyle system.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make representations to the Foyle Fishery Commission to permit licence holders to fish on the Derry stretch of the River Foyle.
The section of the River Foyle referred to by the Deputy is under the powers given in Paragraph 3 of the Third Schedule to the Foyle Fisheries Act, 1952, at present reserved by the Foyle Fisheries Commission as a several fishery in which fishing may be prosecuted only by the commission or its lessees. The transitional period of three years mentioned in the Act has been extended for a further period of ten years. Within that period the commission expect to have acquired sufficient knowledge and experience of the fishery to enable them to decide the best method of operating it in the general interest of the Foyle Fisheries as a whole. I am not accordingly prepared to make representations to the commission as suggested by the Deputy.