asked the Minister for Lands whether, where damage and deterioration in a salmon fishing industry is clearly attributable to the activities of an E.S.B. hydro-electric station installation, he is prepared to help finance, and otherwise assist the working fishermen concerned to initiate other types of fishing industries in their areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Assistance for Salmon Fishermen.
Should it be established that damage and deterioration of a particular salmon fishery is attributable to the activities of an E.S.B. hydro-electric station it would be a matter for the fishing interests injured thereby to take up the question of compensation with that board. Apart from this the normal assistance of my Department and of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara would be available to any working fishermen affected in such a way who wished to engage in other types of fishing but there are no funds at my disposal from which exceptional financial assistance could be provided.
Is the Minister aware that as a result of his deliberate action 14 crews have been thrown out of employment in the Erne estuary? Will he take the necessary steps to compensate them for the loss they have sustained?
Has not the Minister a duty, as Minister for Fisheries, to concern himself in the interests of estuarine fishing crews whose interests are prejudiced by his direct intervention?
If the fishermen concerned apply to the Department or to Bord Iascaigh Mhara for loans for boats, I am sure that their applications will be sympathetically considered.
How can you ask a chap who operates a boat to start legal action against the E.S.B. which legal action would be bound to end in the Supreme Court? How can you advise a man to do so in view of the financial situation of the two potential litigants? One has unlimited resources and the other, the fisherman, has none at all. Surely the Minister should have some obligation on him to see that justice is done to the fishermen who have been, in fact, precluded from pursuing their business?
The receipts of these fishermen in the Erne estuary, as stated to the inquiry held in connection with the matter, have declined until they were down to £20 or at £30 at the time of the inquiry.
As a result of the activities of the E.S.B.
When I was Minister for Fisheries, I remember hearing that as a result of one explosion in that estuary some thousands of salmon were picked up dead. I think that subsequent activities of the E.S.B. destroyed that fishing and I think it is only right that the Minister should concern himself with the fishermen. He should see that they get some compensation.
As far as my own powers are concerned they are limited by the Fishery Acts. It is up to the fishermen to decided whether they will appeal to the E.S.B. for compensation in these circumstances.
Is the Minister aware that they cannot apply to the E.S.B. for compensation? They are deprived by law from applying.