asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the salmon drift net fishermen in County Donegal incurred considerable expense in equipping their boats with monofilament synthetic nets; and if, as the bye-law of 22nd January 1965 prohibits the use of such nets for salmon drift net fishing, he will compensate the fishermen for the outlay incurred by them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salmon Drift Net Fishing Bye-Law.
102.
I am not aware that the position is as suggested in the first part of the Deputy's question.
As to the second part, as announced in the press on 29th January following representations by a deputation of Youghal fishermen led by Deputy Martin J. Corry I have agreed to amend the bye-law to which he refers and am deferring the operative date to 1st June next.
If the Parliamentary Secretary receives evidence that drift net fishermen off the Donegal coast have now equipped their boats with up-to-date nets of a monofilament synthetic material and have spent between £600 and £1,000 per boat on the purchase of these nets, will he do for the Donegal fishermen what he did for those at Youghal—postpone the operation of the prohibition?
You need Deputy Corry up there.
That is just the point. As the Minister for Agriculture has pointed out, a Fianna Fáil Deputy can get away with these things but a Fine Gael man can not. As the Parliamentary Secretary is aware, the season for the Youghal men begins much earlier than the fishing season for Donegal, which does not begin until 1st June. In view of that, would he postpone the operation of the bye-law in Donegal until 1st November, thereby giving these men an opportunity of recouping themselves? Will he state if the bye-law applies to nets on all types of boats, be they small seine net boats or only half-deckers?
To answer the last supplementary question first, it applies to all nets used in all boats. It is the type of net that is prohibited. In answer to the Deputy's request for a postponement in regard to Donegal, the answer is no, and the reason is that given by himself: the season does not commence until June and therefore they will have six months' notice. That did not apply in Youghal where fishing is going on now.
Where will the Donegal fishermen sell their nets? Is there to be any opportunity of recouping themselves?
I do not know whether there is any outlet for the sale of their nets, but the Deputy is probably aware these types of nets are being prohibited all over the world.
On notice to the fishermen.
Six months' notice does not appear to be too short.
In a period when they cannot fish.