asked the Minister for Defence how often a naval patrol boat has visited the Drogheda area since 1st January, 1956.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Patrol Boats' Visits to Drogheda Area.
A corvette of the Naval Service visited the Drogheda area at the end of February last.
Although this was the only visit made to the Drogheda area since the date mentioned by the Deputy, corvettes have on occasions been within easy reach of the area in the course of patrols.
Would the Minister not agree that in view of the fact that there are frequent complaints of poaching by foreign trawlers on Drogheda bar, the present system of patrol is entirely inadequate and will he not consider if some other system can be devised rather than an occasional visit every six months?
I am not aware of frequent complaints. On the 2nd December, 1955, there was a trawler seen there and it was reported several days afterwards. I got in touch with the people who reported it and told them that immediately such trawlers were seen they should communicate with the Guards. Since then, there was one complaint—on the 6th March, when the Drogheda Board of Fishery Conservators wrote to the Department stating that a trawler had been seen on the 1st March between 6.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. Five days after the trawler had been seen, they wrote to every Deputy in the place telling them that it had been there but they did not tell anybody about it on the day it was there. A corvette is always available.
Would the Minister not agree that in the event of the Guards being told about the trawler, nothing could be done about the matter in view of the fact that the patrol boat can be seen approaching a couple of miles from the bar?
I have told them what to do.