asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the terms of the agreement entered into between his Department, the E.S.B. and a Dutch firm concerning removal of fish from Lough Derg, (b) whether all fish other than salmon are to be taken from the lake, (c) whether the lake will be restocked with trout-fry, (d) whether he or the E.S.B. invited tenders from Irish firms to handle the fish taken from the lake, and (e) whether, in view of the large number of tourists coming into the country for coarse fishing, he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lough Derg Fisheries.
My Department was not a party to the agreement referred to in the question. The information sought relates to the control and management of the Shannon Fisheries which, under statute have been vested in the E.S.B. and are, therefore, matters in which I have no function.
In view of the fact that this agreement is likely to have a very grave adverse effect on the tourist industry, would the Minister not consider that it is very much in the interests of a section of his Department, the Tourist Board, that they should have been consulted by the E.S.B. before this action was taken?
I do not know if anybody will get any value by consulting my Department on matters relating to fisheries because we know nothing at all about them.
Is it not a fact that there is a department, under the Department of Industry and Commerce, which is charged with the expansion of the tourist industry, namely, the Tourist Board? In view of the fact that fishing in the Midlands plays a large part in the encouragement of the tourist trade, surely the Minister has a definite responsibility to ensure that no action is taken by any——
Surely the Deputy does not think that a question?
Surely the Minister has responsibility to ensure that before the E.S.B. take action which is likely to prejudice our tourist trade, they will consult with the tourist body concerned?
I have no function regarding the management of the fisheries entrusted by statute to the E.S.B. I am quite certain that all the tourist and fishery interests know the headquarters of the E.S.B. in Lower Fitzwilliam Street and that it can be contacted by phone, telegraph, telegram or personally.
As the person who put down the question, I should like to know to whom I should have addressed it, if I have addressed it wrongly?
The E.S.B.
Is the E.S.B. under the Minister's control?
The Deputy knows that the management of the fisheries was entrusted by a law passed here to the E.S.B. I have no function in the matter.
Surely the position is not then to be that henceforth matters relating to the E.S.B. will not be replied to by the Minister for Industry and Commerce?
That is a very naive question.
It is a matter of some importance. There is enough shelving of responsibility.
The Dáil passed legislation entrusting responsibility for the management of the Shannon fisheries to the E.S.B. If a question of fishing policy is involved, it is a matter for the Minister for Lands. The question of management is a function of the E.S.B., and not mine.
Surely the matter referred to in this question is a matter of administrative policy?
If the Deputy understood the question, he would know it is a question of management.
It affects part of the constituency that I represent. It is a matter in which I have considerable interest.
If the Minister has no control over the E.S.B., who appoints or dismisses the directors of the board?
That is a dirty one.
A man can buy a dog but that does not mean he has to bark himself.
The Minister knows that occasionally it is the tail that wags the dog.