asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to increase the fishery protection vessel section in the event of the extension of fishery limits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection Vessels.
27.
Increasing the number of Naval Service vessels is an on-going matter in the light of needs and resources.
In the immediate context arrangements for the placing of a contract for a second fishery protection vessel are in hands. I have a Government decision on this action.
Is the Minister aware that Japanese and Russian factory ships are operating just outside our fishery limits and that the boats which supply them are destroying the entire stock of our fishery resources, perhaps to the detriment of our entire fishing industry? Will he take urgent steps to ensure that this form of poaching by the subsidiaries to the factory ships will be eliminated as soon as possible?
I am not so aware. I am aware that last year the Naval Service arrested a large Russian vessel and it cost the Russians £66,000 to retrieve that vessel by way of fine and payments for gear and catch. I should like to congratulate the service on that. Recently a complaint was made by Galway fishermen about fishing by Russian and Spanish vessels which they said were within our limits. Within hours an aircraft had flown over the vessels and within a further few hours the Naval Service boat had arrived. They were outside the limits.
The Government and the Attorney General are seeking an extension. If we are successful in getting these limits extended, will the Minister agree that our protection vessels will be completely inadequate to police these areas?
Five nations have the right to fish at present within 12 miles but if it were generally extended to 12 miles then the requirement, according to the Naval Service would be five vessels of the standards of the Deirdre. A study is going on as to what will happen in relation to that.
Apparently I am not getting my point across. If the Attorney General's proposal for a 200-mile limit or the fishermen's demand for a 50-mile limit are implemented internationally, will the Minister ensure that we have sufficient vessels to protect whatever area is decided on?
The Law of the Sea Conferences at Caracas last year and at Geneva this year are matters in which the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and the Attorney General are primarily involved. I must hold a watching brief as to what would happen as far as fishery protection was concerned in the event of certain decisions being taken. A decision has not been taken. Deputy Lemass blandly said that our proposal is for a 200-mile limit but there are umpteen different proposals.
But 200 miles seems to be the likely one.
I could not answer that.
The Government should be planning for it.