asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when it is intended to publish the Report of the Commission on Inland Fisheries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fisheries Commission Report.
22.
(Cavan): I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to a similar question by Deputy Moore on 1st November, 1973. The position is still unchanged.
Could the Minister give me the reply for that date?
(Cavan): The Parliamentary Secretary replied as follows:
As soon as I receive the final report of the Inland Fisheries Commission I will give immediate consideration to the question of its publication.
Has he yet received the final report of the Inland Fisheries Commission?
(Cavan): He has not received it yet.
When does the Minister expect to receive the report?
(Cavan): He has reason to believe it should be received by the end of the year.
Can the Minister say how long he has been waiting for the final report?
(Cavan): As the Deputy knows, a committee consisting of a chairman and 21 members was appointed in March, 1970. It is still sitting. There is no time-limit for the submission of a report.
Would the Minister consider that the commission, having sat since June, 1970, have now considered most of the problems? The problems have been identified. Could the Minister ask that the report be presented as a matter of urgency to the Parliamentary Secretary in charge of fisheries?
(Cavan): The implication in my brief is that the commission are aware that the Minister would like them to report.
This is a matter of vital concern to fisheries and to the people of the country in general. Can the Minister inform the House why this report has been held up? What is the delay?
(Cavan): The commission, consisting of a chairman and 21 members, was appointed in June, 1970. When it was set up no time limit was set for the submission of the report.
Would it be fair—
I have allowed the Deputy many supplementary questions. I now propose to pass on to the next question.
Would it be fair to say that a letter should be sent in a prepaid envelope—
(Cavan): With all due respect to the Deputy, a time limit was not put on when the commission was set up.
A time limit should be put on all commissions.
(Cavan): It may well be that a time limit should be put on all commissions when they are set up.
This is a disgraceful situation.