asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will indicate, in respect of the fishing survey carried out on behalf of the Foyle Fisheries Commission, whether a report of the survey has been submitted; and, if so, if he will make it available to Members of the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Survey.
13.
The report of the two Canadian experts who carried out a survey of the salmon fisheries of the Foyle area in 1973 has not yet been received. The report when furnished will be considered in the first instance by the Foyle Fisheries Commission and a decision has not yet been taken on the matter of publication.
Can the Minister say that, pending the publication of the experts' report, no change will be made this year in the fishery regulations of the Foyle Fisheries Commission?
It depends on whether we get the report immediately. I would not rule out the possibility of some changes.
Is the report in the hands of the commission?
No. Nobody has got the report yet.
Have even the experts got a report?
Not that I am aware of.
I do not know why the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries has been relegated to the back benches so far as parliamentary replies are concerned. I wonder if it is as a result of last week's operation.
This is hardly relevant.
The Deputy should remember that the Foyle Fisheries was never under the Parliamentary Secretary.
Always was.
It was never under him. The Deputy is misinformed.
What was it under?
Under the Minister directly. Deputy Gibbons will tell you.
I will, and I agree with——
Could the Minister say if any changes will be made this year in the regulations?
I have said already that this will depend entirely on whether and when we get the report.
In other words, no report, no change.
I am not prepared to give any off-the-cuff undertaking.
The Minister never does that.