asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied that the Boards of Conservators operated the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, 1972, in a fair and responsible manner.
161.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salmon Fishing Licences.
160.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied that all those who qualified under the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, 1972, obtained licences.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together.
The information furnished to my Department to date by Boards of Conservators who have completed their allocation of fishing licences under the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, 1972, indicates that the boards generally have operated the order in a fair manner, within the limits of the maximum numbers of licences prescribed in the order.
However, in view of alleged irregularities, I have asked the boards to review licences already issued or allocated to ensure that the licences concerned are fully qualified in accordance with the criteria of eligibility in the 1972 order.
162.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (a) the conditions under which salmon fishing licences were issued this year (b) if these conditions were fulfilled by each Fishery Board and (c) if he is satisfied that the conditions attaching to the licences issued by the Drogheda Board of Conservators were observed.
The conditions which up to now governed the issue of fishing licences for the use of salmon nets in public fisheries in tidal waters are laid down in the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, 1972, which provides that an applicant to be qualified for issue of a salmon net licence should (i) have derived a substantial part of his livelihood from fishing for salmon and (ii) have been the holder of the kind of licence sought or have been a regular member of a salmon fishing crew in the prescribed datum years, that is two out of the four years 1969-1972 in the case of the Galway, Connemara and Ballinakill fishery districts and three out of the five years 1968 to 1972 in the case of the remaining fishery districts.
As to the second part of the question, a few irregularities appear to have taken place and these are being appropriately dealt with. As to the final part of the question, I am satisfied that Drogheda Board of Conservators observed the conditions laid down in the order in allocating licences.
Could the Parlialiamentary Secretary give any indication of the type of irregularities alleged to have taken place to which he has referred in his reply?
We have some allegations from Members of the House and some by way of correspondence. The principal allegation was made by Deputy Lynch in the course of the election campaign when he addressed fishermen in Waterford and since then he has not substantiated——
What was the nature of the allegations?
Ask Deputy Lynch.
Yes, ask Deputy Lynch.
That is hardly sufficient. The Parliamentary Secretary's reply suggested that some irregularities had taken place in certain areas and when I inquire what they are, I am told to ask Deputy Lynch. Is that sufficient?
Deputy Lynch is a master of irregularities.
I would be grateful if I could have a reply to my question.
I have told the Deputy that a number of Deputies have brought alleged irregularities to my attention.
What are the irregularities?
——and that——
You are not telling me what they are.
——persons have got licences who are not entitled to them and who did not fulfil the conditions laid down in the 1972 order. Deputy Lynch—this was an election gimmick of course—did make down in Waterford at the time of the election a serious statement, particularly as he was Taoiseach at the time. This statement seems to be unsubstantiated by any reports in my Department so I must assume it was with a view to winning a few votes that it was made. In any case, allegations of irregularities are being examined but it is too early to state——
Could I ask what all this interesting stuff is in aid of—this discourse from the Parliamentary Secretary on speeches alleged to have been made by Deputy Lynch during the election campaign and obscure references to vote-catching stunts. What on earth has this to do with irregularities in the issue of licences for fishing for salmon? I would like to know and to get a straight reply rather than this cleverality from the Parliamentary Secretary.
The Deputy asked me who made the allegations and what was the nature of the irregularity. I am trying to give him the information he seeks——
Mr. Gibbons
And you have resolutely refused to tell me what they are.
——and I have told the Deputy that we are examining the reports received through correspondence and from Deputies—some from the Deputy's party—and I mentioned the allegation from Deputy Lynch which he made during the election campaign and which I will read, if necessary.
Mr. Gibbons
I hope that you, Sir, know what the Parliamentary Secretary is talking about because I do not know.