asked the Minister for Fisheries the up-to-date position regarding court proceedings that are pending on trawler skippers who cannot meet their repayments.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Trawler Skippers' Repayments .
6.
: I understand from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara that summonses for repayment of arrears of loans have been issued in 27 cases.
: Could the Minister say how far these proceedings have gone?
: They are at various stages. The Deputy does not want me to go into the legal——
: I do, because taking 27 trawlers out of the Irish fleet at present will be a disaster for Irish fishermen and it is all because of the Minister's policy of abandoning the 50-mile limit.
: There is no question of that being done. The question asks about court proceedings. "Court proceedings" means when the summons is issued. Between this summons being issued and the determination of the court proceedings most of these cases are settled. That is the reality of the situation.
: Can the Minister give an assurance to the House that the 27 cases he has just mentioned will be settled?
: I am not giving that assurance.
: What is the Minister talking about then?
: Based on past record and performance the great majority of them have been settled amicably.
: Could the Minister tell the House, of the 27 cases involved, how many have proceeded to judgment and how many boats of those 27 cases have been seized?
: That is a separate question. We are getting into a complete fisheries debate. We have spent half an hour on six questions.
: It is a very important question.
: All I am looking for is a breakdown of the 27 cases, and the number of judgments?
: If the Deputy will give me details, I will certainly be glad to do it; I will communicate with the Deputy.
: Question No.7.
(Interruptions.)
: I will certainly be glad to do that for Deputy O'Keeffe. I will be in touch with him.
: Why not give the information to the House?
: Deputy O'Keeffe did not ask the question.
: I asked it.
: I am calling the next question.