Vol. 213 No. 5
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that Galway trawlermen were informed that their catches were refused at the Galway fish freezing plant because of shortage of staff, although about 2,000 persons were registered at the Galway Labour Exchange as being unemployed at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Galway fish plant is under the control of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara; and if he is satisfied that the interests of Irish sea fishermen are being safeguarded in the operation of the plant.
43.
asked the Minister for Lands why fish were allowed to be landed at Galway by foreign trawlers while the catches of Galway trawlermen were refused.
44.
asked the Minister for Lands if Irish sea fishermen were consulted before a licence to land fish was granted to foreign trawlers.
45.
asked the Minister for Lands if he proposes to take any action to safeguard Irish fishermen against the importation of fish from foreign trawlers at cut-throat prices.
46.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that fishermen in Galway are apprehensive that landings of fish there by a foreign vessel may adversely affect the sale of their own catches; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 41 to 46 inclusive together.
I am convinced that, for the more rapid development of our sea-fishery industry on rational lines, the processing sector will have to occupy a front-line position in our national fisheries policy. As a corollary, existing processing factories, and others that may be established, will have to be assured of regular and adequate supplies for economic working. In that connection, I intend to give special attention to the promotion of contractual arrangements between Irish fishermen and processing factories to ensure that at least basic factory needs will be met and will be expanded. I have implicit faith that Irish fishermen will in time, and with improved State aid and encouragement be well capable of playing their full part in this aspect of the industry.
Hear, hear.
As an interim measure, however, to ensure supplies for the processing factory operated by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara at Galway, it is necessary to permit landings of fish by foreign trawlers to supplement, rather than supplant, local catches to enable the factory to fulfil highly important export orders which have been secured and which will, it is hoped, be repeated. In view of these considerations, I have recently granted a licence under the Agricultural Products (Regulation of Imports) Act, 1938, enabling an externally-registered vessel to land its catches for the factory at Galway under conditions which ensure that all such landings of fish will be processed and re-exported and will not, therefore, adversely affect the interests of Irish fishermen.
The suggestion that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara refused fish at Galway because of alleged shortage of staff is not borne out by the information at my disposal. Fish occasionally had, however, been refused by the Board on grounds such as poor condition and unsuitability for processing. While the Galway fishermen were not specifically consulted about the present temporary importations, import of raw materials for re-export is a well-recognised industrial practice and I am fully satisfied that the best interests of Irish fishermen, which is my paramount consideration, are being served in the present case. Finally, I have no reason to believe that the landings in question constitute cut-throat competition for locally caught supplies.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary throw any light on the type of licences given for the importation of fish and for what type of fish are they issued?
Or the prices?
Is the Deputy referring to the licence mentioned in my reply?
The Spanish trawler's licence.
There is no restriction or specification as to the type of fish because, as Deputies know, no ship can guarantee exactly what type of fish it will bring in. There is a restriction as to the quantity and as to the date to which the licence may operate.
Is there any restriction about the type of net used?
That is covered by the ordinary regulation——
But as this boat fishes outside the three mile limit, surely it is using a smaller mesh which it would not be legal for the Irish fishermen to use.
It is using gear which is lawful in the area in which it operates.
And, therefore, dumping the fish not accepted on the market into fish meal.
I am not sure if the Deputy is being deliberately or wilfully dense on this matter or whether he does not understand. Perhaps I should explain: the catch from this trawler is sent into the factory for processing and such fish as cannot be processed and then exported is sent to the fish meal factory. There is no question whatever of any competition with our fishermen. In fact, at the time of these landings, they had not landed any fish but directions have been given that if they land fish, their fish is to be taken before that of the Spanish vessel. The only object is to ensure that this factory and the 58 people employed there will be kept in employment and that the factory will be kept going and expanded so that when our fishermen have large landings to make, the factory will be able to deal with them. If that is not done the factory will close down and there will be no outlet for the fishermen.
A good deal of time has been devoted to these questions and there are other questions on the Order Paper.
Yes, but there is a lot of cod being thrown around this House to-day.
Hear, hear.
I put the plant in Galway in operation.
It never worked while you were there.
Why are the Galway men not bringing in fish?
Why is it——
These questions have got their share of time. I cannot allow this to go on indefinitely.
I only want to ask one question——
Chair.
Why were the fish thrown back into the sea?
Is it not true that they sold out the fishermen to the fishmongers for political subscriptions? Everybody knows that.
Chair.
You are shouting down people as you always did.
I shall not take any more supplementary questions on this subject. Question No. 47.
On a point of order, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
The Deputy is entitled to give notice that he is raising the matter on the Adjournment.
Yes, but I have called No. 47.
Is it not in order for Deputy Coogan or any other Deputy to rise to a point of order? If he rises to a point of order, is he not entitled to be heard by the Chair?
He did not rise to a point of order.
He did.
What is the point of order?
I wanted to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
That is all we want.
And we shall all be here for it.
And Fianna Fáil will not shout anybody down.
Forgeries.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
You should be ashamed of yourselves. Where are the thousands of forged letters?
Perjurer.
Forged letters.
Perjury.
Order.
On a point of order, is it in order for a Deputy to call another Deputy a perjurer?
I cannot hear anybody. I have to use the power vested in me by this House.
They are trying to recover from the shattering defeat in Galway.
On a point of order, I heard the Minister for Local Government using the word "perjurer".
I could not hear anybody. Question No. 47.
Everybody in the House heard the Minister for Local Government.
Does the Minister deny it?
Perjury, I repeat.
Forged letters.
The expression used by the Minister for Local Government must be withdrawn.
Which expression?
The word "perjurer".
I have not used the word "perjurer". I used the word "perjury".
Either word must be withdrawn.
I will not withdraw the word "perjurer" or "perjury" while I am being called a forger by this article over there.
The words "perjurer" and "perjury" are quite unparliamentary and must be withdrawn.
I am not withdrawing them. I will withdraw from the House.
The Minister withdrew from the House.
And good riddance.
Withdrawing from the House does not purge the offence. I must report that the Minister for Local Government has refused to obey the Chair.
May I ask what was the word the Minister was asked to withdraw?
Either the word "perjurer" or "perjury".
The Minister used the word "perjury".
The word "perjurer" or "perjury" in the present context is unparliamentary and must be withdrawn.
He did not use it here.
I find I shall have to use the power vested in me and adjourn the House.
Is it in order for a Deputy to refer to another Deputy as a "forger"?
I am dealing with what I heard. I am suspending the sitting until 4.15 p.m.
Does the Chair seriously suggest he did not hear a Deputy call another Deputy a forger?
The sitting is suspended until 4.15 p.m.
During the exchanges that took place prior to your intervention and adjournment of the Dáil there were many breaches of good order and decorum on both sides of the House. While we understand your difficulty in maintaining order in these circumstances, you will perhaps also understand our inability to understand why one member only was selected for censure by you. Nevertheless, Sir, in deference to your ruling, the Minister for Local Government will withdraw whatever expression he used and, on behalf of my Party, I apologise for any seeming discourtesy to the Chair. I hope that henceforth you will be able to get similar response from all sides of the House.
Arising out of what the Taoiseach has said, as Leader of the principal Opposition Party, I desire to say that in the exchanges that have taken place observations have been made which may have appeared to show disrespect to you as Ceann Comhairle or the Chair. On behalf of our Party, I wish to express our regret and to assure you, and I feel sure that the Taoiseach shares my view in this matter, of the consistent desire of us all, in association with all Parties in this House, to maintain the dignity of the Chair and to show the fullest deference to your exalted position.
I do not wish to comment except to say that we had no part in the exchanges.
In the interests of the order of the House and in deference to your ruling on the statement or words said to have been used by me, I wish to withdraw them completely.
Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.
Will Deputy Flanagan the coffee-shop cowboy, withdraw his allegation?
The Deputy is trying to start it off again.
The only observation I made at any time was to inquire of the Minister for Local Government where were the thousands of forged letters.
