asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if the final contracts for the purchase of the St. George's oyster beds at Kinvara and Clarinbridge districts, County Galway have been finalised by his Department.
42.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Oyster Beds.
41.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the arrangements, if any, that have been made by his Department to allow fishing to take place in an orderly fashion in the St. George's oyster beds at Clarinbridge and Kinvara districts, County Galway for the oyster fishing month of December; the organisation that will be responsible for the development of those beds; the proposals that he intends to make to the oyster fishermen for orderly development; and if he will now make a statement on the matter.
(Cavan-Monaghan): With the permission of the Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
It is hoped to conclude the purchase of the St. George oyster fishery very shortly.
Arrangements for the management and development of the fishery cannot be put into effect until the purchase of the fishery has been completed but at this stage it is intended that An Bord Iascaigh Mhara will make the necessary arrangements. These arrangements will include plans for the development of the beds and the manner in which fishing can most beneficially be carried out.
I am glad to hear that at last the finalisation of that contract is in hand. I should like to ask the Minister if he is aware — this is something that I only became aware of recently — that the St. George's bed has a licence to fish oyster from the month of September while the public bed has a licence to fish only in the month of December? Will the Minister ask BIM to take this fact into account when they are drawing up the programme for the running of the beds and, perhaps, have one fishing licence for the two beds from September to December, or from October to December or some time longer than the month of December as is now proposed for the public bed?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Strictly speaking that is a separate question but I was aware that there was some difference between this old and ancient fishery and the other oyster fisheries in the area. I have noted what the Deputy has said and I will ask BIM to take it into account.
I should like to ask the Minister if we can take the precedent of State purchase of this bed as an indication of future policy in other areas along the coast?
(Cavan-Monaghan): The joint programme lays out Government policy on the acquisition of fisheries. The intention would be to have a look at each fishery as it comes on the market and then it would be a matter for the central fisheries board.
Will the Minister also take into account and investigate certain areas along the coast which have special licences but which are not being operated? Will he do this with a view to the Government taking an interest in the matter? I agree with Deputy Higgins in this regard but there are a lot of licences not being operated and a lot more use could be made of them.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is the policy of the Government to show an interest, at least, in all fisheries which become available or which are for sale. That will continue.
I am talking about the ones that are not for sale and are not being used. Is there any question of compulsory acquisition?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I do not think there are any proposals for compulsory acquisition.