asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the Naval Service fired on fishermen in west Kerry and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naval Service Firing Incident.
16.
While fishery conservators and gardaí were hauling in an illegal net in Smerwick Harbour on 30 May 1979, physical interference by local fishermen endangered the conservators and gardaí and their vessel. The Officer Commanding LE Gráinne, which was assisting in the operation, authorised the firing of one warning shot.
The Naval Service did not open fire on any fishermen.
Can the Minister state on whose instructions this shot was fired, whether it was those of the superintendent, the local bailiff or the commander of the corvette?
I think I have already answered that question. The officer commanding LE Gráinne, which was assisting in the operation, authorised the firing of one warning shot.
Would the Minister tell the House if this is the first time the Irish Navy have fired on Irish fishermen?
I have already pointed out that the fishermen were not fired at, as the Deputy seems to wish to imply. There was a warning shot fired into the air.
Will the Minister tell the House if this was live ammunition, or was it a blank?
Would the Deputy care to inform the House whether he supports the law of this land and wishes to have it upheld?
I am asking the Minister if he is using the Irish Navy as bailiffs?
Is the Deputy standing over the illegal action of these people because the Deputy and his party cannot have it both ways?
The Minister is there to answer questions. I am asking the Minister did he personally give instructions to the Irish Navy to fire at Irish fishermen. The Minister should answer that question, yes or no. Be it on his head.
I have already answered the question in that the officer commanding the vessel authorised the firing of a warning shot. I would appeal to Deputies on all sides of the House to support the steps being taken by the Government to uphold the law of this land and I deprecate the actions of the Deputy in implying that the Naval Service should do less than their best in upholding these laws.
Would the Minister say on what authority in the Statute Book has the Irish Naval Service the right to fire at the Irish people?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister agree that this was highly excessive force and was something in the nature of taking a sledgehammer to kill a fly?
Deputy Fitzpatrick's briefing in this case is not very good. If the Deputy wishes to know what happened I will take some time to explain with the Ceann Comhairle's permission——
Put it on the record.
——and the Deputy can decide whether it was a sledgehammer approach or not.
Arrangements had been made with the Department of Fisheries and Forestry earlier this year for the deployment of naval vessels to assist on salmon fisheries protection work. It was arranged that the naval vessel involved would have a garda sergeant and a fishery inspector aboard at all times. The area being patrolled in the period 14 May 1979 to 31 May 1979, was the west Cork/Kerry/Shannon mouth area.
At 19.46 on 30 May 1979, the naval vessel on patrol the LE Gráinne, entered Smerwick Harbour, in company with the motor vessel Thomond, a vessel manned by fishery conservators. A large force of gardaí were present on land. A search for illegal nets was carried out but only one was located. This was aboard a boat at anchor. This net was seized and taken aboard the Thomond.
While the raid was in progress several large groups of local people gathered at Ballynagall Pier nearby, and local boats stayed close to the Thomond during the search. At 21.30 when the net was being transferred from the Thomond to LE Gráinne, two local vessels actively tried to prevent the transfer by ramming the Thomond and attempted to pull her away from LE Gráinne. Eventually one vessel was close alongside the Thomond and the other vessel tried to wedge herself between Thomond and Gráinne. This vessel by pinning a bight of the net on to her forward bitts and by going full astern was able to pull the net from both Thomond and Gráinne. The net had to be cut several times to prevent personnel being dragged over the gunwale or the net being pulled under the stern and fouling screws and rudders.
By 21.45 is appeared that Thomond might be overwhelmed and the net seized by the local fishermen. As the ship and the forces on board were endangered by the local fishermen's action a round of 7.62 ball was fired in the air as a warning. Eventually half the net was taken on board Gráinne, the other half was recovered by the locals. Thomond and Gráinne then proceeded towards the mouth of the harbour, accompanied by several local boats.
Is the Minister satisfied that he is demeaning the powers of the navy by asking them to become involved in disputes with Irish people?
My predecessor, Deputy Donegan, was the first Minister for Defence who gave instructions——
The Minister is shifting the blame now.
We have had enough debate on this.
——for the Naval Service to assist the boards of conservators in enforcing the laws in regard to the poaching of salmon. That was followed up last year and this year by this Government in the interests of fishermen who have licences to fish drift-net for salmon at sea and in the interests of the survival of the salmon as a species.
Further arising——
We have had enough.
I have to put it on the record that Deputy Donegan never authorised the navy to be involved in a fracas with the people as did this Minister.