asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that Spanish and French boats are fishing regularly, within the limits, off the West Cork coast, and, if so, if he will have measures taken to stop this practice, and thus protect the interests of local fishermen.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Trawlers' Operations.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that French trawlers have been fishing in territorial waters along the coast of the Dingle Peninsula for some time, so depriving the local fishermen of many boxes of fish, and, if so, if he will arrange to have some permanent protection provided for the district so that this pirating will be prevented.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 116 together.
No recent complaints of infringement of the exclusive fishery limits off the coasts of West Cork and the Dingle Peninsula have been received in my Department. When occurrences of this kind are observed locally, the best course to take is to report them immediately, either directly or through the nearest Garda Station, to the Department of Defence as the authority responsible for the Naval Service, by whom my Department is assured that all practicable steps are being, and will continue to be taken, to detect and prevent illegal incursions by foreign vessels.
Is the Minister not aware that on several occasions representations have been made to his Department and no protection whatsoever has been afforded by his Department to the fishermen in Cork? Possibly the same is true with regard to the Kerry coast.
I said in my reply that no recent complaints of infringement by foreign trawlers fishing within the three-mile limit have been received in my Department.
They were fishing there continuously early this month and in the month of September.
What are the Guards doing?