asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries how many fishing trawlers were purchased in France by Bord Iascaigh Mhara; the total amount paid for such trawlers; and how much money is needed to repair such trawlers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Trawlers.
48.
It is not a function of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to purchase fishing vessels. In recent years the board provided grants amounting to £137,550 towards the purchase at a total cost of £550,258 of nine new vessels built in France for Irish fishermen and an Irish fishing company. It is understood that certain repairs require to be carried out at present to some of these vessels but details of the likely cost are not available.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say what inspection the officials of his Department carried out before they gave a grant for these boats? These boats are now rotten and are tied to piers. What compensation will the fishermen receive?
As I have said already it is not a matter for Bord Iascaigh Mhara to purchase vessels. Before Bord Iascaigh Mhara gave the usual grant in connection with the purchase of these boats they carried out the usual inspection and at the time the inspection was carried out the defect was not noticeable.
As these boats were bought in good faith on the recommendation of Bord Iascaigh Mhara's inspector, that implicates the board. Surely consideration must be given to this fact in view of the enormous expense and cost to these fishermen?
I do not agree that the fishermen bought the boats on the suggestion of Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
If the Bord Iascaigh Mhara inspectors give a certificate and the fishermen buy in good faith on the strength of that certificate surely they should have some recourse to Bord Iascaigh Mhara?
Bord Iascaigh Mhara became involved only in regard to the paying of the grant which was the usual amount payable for this purpose. Their engineers carried out an inspection of the boats which they found at that time to be perfect as far as they were concerned. It was after the inspection that this difficulty developed and the defect showed itself.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what guarantee was given to the fishermen by the French company who built these boats? These boats are only four years old and if a proper inspection had been carried out the defects would have been noticed. Any Irish boatbuilder will tell the Parliamentary Secretary that. Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider giving compensation to the fishermen who invested their money in good faith in these boats which are now rotten?
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.