Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Dec 1982

Vol. 339 No. 3

Salmon, Eel and Oyster (Miscellaneous Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order, 1982: Motion.

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. O'Toole)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:

Salmon, Eel and Oyster (Miscellaneous Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order, 1982,

a copy of which Order in draft was laid on the Table of Dáil Éireann on the 13th day of December, 1982.

Ba mhaith liom treaslú leat as ucht do cheaptha mar Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I wish you a peaceful and, hopefully, a long sojourm as Leas-Cheann Comhairle, an office to which you will bring great dignity.

Under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, as amended, the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry is empowered to increase by order salmon, eel and oyster fishing licence duties and salmon dealers' and salmon exporters' licence fees. Such an order cannot be made, however, until a motion approving the draft of the order has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas.

Salmon, eel and oyster fishing licence duties were last increased with effect from January 1977 and salmon dealers' and exporters' licence fees with effect from 1 January 1981. In settling the amounts of increases in licence duties, as now proposed, I have taken into consideration the rates of inflation between January 1977 and January 1981 and that the levy on the first or only sale of salmon, which was introduced in May 1980, was abolished as from 1 June last. In the latter regard the salmon levy was abolished following consideration among other things of representations to my Department by salmon dealers and fishermen. The proposed increases in fishing licence duties and in salmon dealers' and exporters' licence fees are estimated to bring in an additional £150,000 a year and so will compensate for the loss of income from the salmon levy. I may say representatives of salmon dealers, exporters and fishermen in meetings with my Department indicated their agreement to increased licence duties and fees in place of the salmon levy.

I accordingly recommend to the House that a resolution be passed approving of the draft order.

Mr. Daly

I first congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his appointment and wish him every success in his office. Coming, as I do, from the midwest, I must say I am sure he will have a special regard for the Deputies from that area. I am delighted that he has been elected to that position and assure him of the co-operation and assistance of this side of the House.

I equally congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well in his task. From my short time in office in that Department I can say that he will have at his disposal there a dedicated and excellent staff. I take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation for the support, co-operation, help and guidance which I received from that staff in my term of office. The Minister will have my wholehearted co-operation in dealing with the major problems now facing the fishing industry. He will receive from this side of the House constructive opposition and no failure to highlight any shortcomings in his handling of this difficult enough task.

The motion is a measure designed to provide necessary finance for the development of our inland fisheries. Everyone here will recognise that with the newly established regional boards and Central Fishery Board the necessary finances are urgently required and not only finances but the necessary resources in staff, equipment and whatever is necessary to enable these boards to tackle and resolve some of the major problems besetting our inland fisheries. Above all, the future expansion and development of our inland fisheries must be ensured.

One important area in fisheries, and vitally important in the future, is that of conservation. Any policy, whether national or European, must have in it a major element directed towards conservation of our threatened and depleted fish stocks. There is no more severe threat at present than that to our salmon stocks. A financial commitment must be given and the necessary resources provided if we are to tackle vigorously the illegal activities which have damaged our salmon fisheries, our major natural resource, put them at risk and are likely to annihilate them unless the necessary action is taken now to stamp out illegal activity. I thank also the members of the various boards and their staffs for their work in this very difficult area. This matter needs far more attention in the future and we need dedicated and committed people involved in this area, to ensure the necessary development in the next few years which is so essential.

It is slightly irrelevant when speaking on this motion, but I could not let this opportunity pass without making a short reference to the position in relation to the common fisheries policy. We will not have an opportunity in the House before the end of this year to refer to the presently developing situation in the European Community. It is now unlikely that we will have an agreed common fisheries policy. I take this opportunity to impress on the Minister the urgent necessity to press ahead before the end of this year for a solution to the major problems unsolved since the negotiations commenced to form a common fisheries policy. We all know how serious the position will be at the end of this year unless a common fisheries policy emerges. In the event of the failure of that policy being agreed at the next Council meeting on 21 December next, the Minister must press ahead with national measures, with Community backing. This is essential if we are to protect the vital national interests of our fishermen in the future. I again wish the Minister well and assure him of constructive opposition from this side of the House.

Mr. Enright

I take this opportunity of wishing the Minister a very successful period in office and happiness and success in his Ministry. I am certain that he will continue, as in the past, to put a considerable amount of hard work into his office. I further congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, as a neighbour of mine from North Tipperary, and wish him well in a long period as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I am certain that he will discharge his duties in a most impartial manner.

Regarding the motion before the House, there are some serious problems facing our fishing industry. I would like to deal with the area of tourism. Our fisheries are of immense importance to the development of our tourist industry. The industry has been of tremendous attraction in bringing people to Ireland, where there are wonderful waters, lakes and rivers and also sea fishing. These are also important to our fishermen who are making their livelihood from fishing.

Being from an inland fishery area I was concerned to read an article in The Sunday World of 28 November last drawing attention to the allegation that tourists coming in here were exploiting our fisheries for financial gain. The report stated that those people were using very sophisticated equipment. All tourists, I should like to stress, are most welcome but we must ensure that our inland waters are not over-fished and in this connection extreme care must be taken by the Minister so that tourists will not be allowed to exploit our fisheries for financial gain. The law must be tightened in this respect so that people will not be able to take huge catches of fish for financial gain.

My special attention was drawn to this at home because the regional tourism board there became concerned by information from the article I have referred to. I suggest that restriction orders on fish catches be issued to tour operators and to hotels to ensure that this practice will not be allowed to continue and that any loophole in the Act will be closed. In order to do this I request the new Minister to act in conjunction with his colleague who has charge of tourism. I hope he will also get in touch with local tourism organisations. As I have said, we welcome all tourists but we must ensure that our inland fisheries industry will be expanded and not contracted by practices of the type I have been referring to. The newspaper article stated that some tourists were able to land up to 500 fish. I have been told that persons have been taking hundreds of fish. I take a particular interest in fishing — indeed all forms of sport, including shooting and fishing interest me — and I should hate to see any form of sport being blackguarded. Successive Minister have done a lot for the development of fishing and I am sure the new Minister will make every effort to see that this sport will not be exploited for financial gain.

I wish the Minister every success in his new office. In my area we have an excellent inland fisheries business, including a fish farm in the area between Roscrea and Shinrone. They breed vast numbers of fish and at the proper time of year release them into free waters. This involves tremendous hard work and personal interest on the part of those involved. We have learned that an additional £150,000 a year will be given towards the development of our inland fisheries. I hope it will help to conserve and even to expand our fish numbers. I agree that our sea fisheries are of great importance but because of my personal interest in inland fishing I should like to see special attention being paid to expanding that industry. Therefore I ask the Minister to pay special attention to this side of our fishing industry.

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. O'Toole)

The House can be assured of my concern for the preservation and conservation of our fishing industry. I assure Deputies that I will make every effort to preserve one of our greatest natural assets. I am glad Deputy Enright brought up the subject of exploitation by tourists who come in here and take large numbers of fish by using sophisticated equipment. The Department were aware of this and are considering ways and means to combat it.

I know the House is aware — all of us should be — that the preservation of our stocks both in the sea and in our fresh waters, is something we must look at carefully. We must always do everything in our power to control illegal fishing. Otherwise we would not be doing ourselves justice and would not be caring for the economy of the country to which our fishing industry contributes so much. Increased fees are being substituted for the abolished levies and these fees will be directed towards conservation.

I express my gratitude to my predecessor, Deputy Daly, for the good wishes he expressed to me. I was glad that he promised to help me in every way possible. I thank the other Deputies who contributed to the debate and I thank the House for the expeditious way the motion has been dealt with.

Question put and agreed to.