I appreciate very much the very valuable expressions of opinion that Senators have given on this Bill. One of the main reasons why I value expressions of opinion such as these is that some people thought it rather strange that one who comes from the Midlands of Ireland should be in charge of Fisheries. I come from a part of the country where fishing boats are never seen and where fish is seldom seen, and when I assumed office two years ago I found myself in the position that I had to familiarise myself with conditions relating to every aspect of the fishing industry. I felt the only way I could do that was, first of all, to visit every fishing port in this country. Shortly after assuming the responsibility I now hold, I undertook that task, and I visited most of the fishing centres around our coast. I felt that one way in which I could vastly improve my knowledge of the industry was by meeting the people primarily concerned with it. Therefore, the first people I endeavoured to meet were the fishermen themselves. I felt that, if we could have a contented group of fishermen, that in itself would be an outstanding aid to the further development of the fishing industry.
When meeting the fishermen in all the fishing ports. I invited their views on the various aspects of the industry. I felt that, meeting them, hearing their problems and their expressions of view would be a considerable help to me in the discharge of my duties. I found that, because I did visit most of the fishing centres, I was in a position to be of some help and some value to fishermen.
What Senator O'Gorman said is quite true. A fisherman's life is an extremely difficult life. He is deprived completely of all the enjoyments of home life that are enjoyed by most of us in other walks of life. Whether we are members of professions, whether we are attached to the Civil Service, whether we are associated with trades or whether we are engaged in business, we do not have to take the risks the fishermen take. I have always had great admiration for fishermen because I thought that to be a fisherman required great courage and skill. There are more risks attached to being a fisherman than to any other profession or walk of life. The fisherman depends upon the weather; he depends upon the sea. Only a few weeks ago, we read with regret of two of our fishermen who met their deaths off the Kerry coast. That serves to bring home to us the dangers associated with the lives of fishermen and the necessity for the great courage and great skill shown by them.
I quite agree that it is most important, before we start asking the people to eat more fish and before we commence a publicity campaign in relation to fish, to make sure that we have the fish. I am glad to say we have now reached the stage where we can supply at the existing level all the fish required for the home market. That is due to the manner in which the board provided our fishermen with boats and first-class equipment of the most modern design.
I think Senator Kissane made reference to the fact that he felt boats should be provided for our fishermen on more generous terms. It is necessary for them to put down a deposit of 10 per cent. of the cost of the boat; but I feel that, when the State is prepared to take the risk of the other 90 per cent. without any other security whatever, it is meeting the fishermen fairly generously. I do not know of any other scheme whereby a boat—and remember a boat is a most expensive commodity to-day—is provided on a deposit of 10 per cent. and the State is prepared to take the risk of the remaining 90 per cent. of the total cost of that boat.
Senator Kissane also referred to the provision of boats for Irish-speaking districts. I remember announcing the Gaeltacht boat scheme in Caherciveen some 18 months ago. Something in the region of £18,000 was allocated by the Government from the National Development Fund for the provision of boats for Irish-speaking districts. That scheme has been in operation for the past 18 months. No deposit is necessary for a boat under the Gaeltacht boat scheme and quite recently one of these boats was handed over and is at present fishing into Teelin in Donegal. We hope to have another of these boats available for handing over at an early date.
It must be borne in mind, however, that one cannot build boats overnight. From the commencement of operations until the boat is completed is approximately 12 months. I agree with what Senator Kissane has said about providing boats in the Irish-speaking districts. Conditions governing the provision of boats in these districts are laid down in the scheme. It is stipulated that the crew must be entirely Irish-speaking. In addition to that, they must fish into a port which is part of the Fíor-Ghaeltacht.
I hope to be in a position to make further boats available as soon as possible. We have applicants from the Connemara Gaeltacht; we have applicants from Helvic; and we have applicants from the Kerry Gaeltacht as well. I am doing everything I possibly can to expedite delivery of the boats, so that Irish-speaking fishermen in the Fíor-Ghaeltacht will be guaranteed a good livelihood in the Gaeltacht. We will do our part in supplying the boats. It is up to them to do the rest.
With reference to the distribution of fish, first of all we must have the fish. When we have the fish, we can examine the marketing end of it. I have asked the board to examine this matter and I know that they have been actively engaged for some time past in setting up depots in various parts of the country for the distribution of fish. Reference was made to-day by, I think, Senator Kissane to the fact that people in fishing districts cannot obtain supplies of fish when such supplies are readily obtainable in Dublin. When I entered the Fisheries Branch, one of the first questions I asked was how it was that there appeared to be a real scarcity of fish in certain areas? I know that in areas like Youghal, close to Ballycotton, and in parts of Sligo, not very far from Killybegs, there is a shortage of fish while, at the same time, fish is available in Dublin City. The reason fish is available in Dublin is that the price is good and the fish follow the price. If there were satisfactory prices in other areas, then the fish would go into those areas. Of course, it is practically impossible for these other areas to pay the prices that prevail in Dublin and naturally the fishermen will not send their supplies to be marketed in those areas.
I am in full agreement with the views expressed as to the protection of our fisheries. I am very interested in this matter, because my attention has been directed to a number of outstanding grievances in this regard. Time and again, I have been in touch with the Department of Defence. As Senators are aware, the Department of Defence is responsible for the protection of our fisheries. I know that the corvettes are limited in number and they cannot be expected to provide 100 per cent. protection, but they are doing their best. However, I have asked them to do even more than their best.
To-day, I replied to a question in the Dáil in connection with a case which occurred within the past week or ten days. As Senators are aware, we endeavour in the Fisheries Branch to trace the owner of the foreign vessel and, having traced the owner, we endeavour to see as far as possible that compensation is paid for any damage done. We endeavour to ensure that full compensation is paid to any fisherman whose nets are destroyed or whose property is damaged in any way. I have noted very carefully the observations of Senators with regard to fishery protection and I undertake to take the matter up again with the Minister for Defence to see what more can be done, in view of the strong plea put forward here to-day both by Senator Kissane and Senator Ó Buachalla.
Senator Stanford raised the question of the price of fish. He said that prices in Dublin are too high. He instanced the difference between the wholesale price and the retail price; he quoted the extraordinary difference there is. Prices are not a matter for the Fisheries Branch. We do not control prices and we cannot, therefore, regulate prices. There is very little we can do about prices. It must be borne in mind that the price of fish is usually based on one day's business and the overheads are consequently very high. It is not possible for me to give the Senator any satisfactory reply to the query he addressed to me this afternoon. I will undertake to look into the matter and satisfy myself in the matter. Again, let me remind the House that the question of prices is not one for the Fisheries Branch and there is very little we can do about it.
With regard to supplies of fish which cannot be disposed of, my attention has on a few occasions been directed to such a state of affairs. It is my aim and ambition to ensure that no fisherman will ever have to dump back into the sea one single fish that he has taken out of it. It is deplorable that in the past fishermen have had to resort to that device, a poor return indeed for their work, their skill, their courage and their industry. Instead of receiving a remunerative price or some return for their catch, they were forced to dump it back into the sea. I can assure Senators that that will not happen again.
That is one of the reasons why I have asked the board to embark upon the provision of fishmeal plants on a large scale. The fishmeal factory in Killybegs, established more or less as an experimental pilot plant, has proved a success and, as a result of the operations of that plant, very valuable information and experience have been gained. I am glad to say a group of private individuals have now decided to establish a large scale fishmeal factory near Killybegs. The board will consider the question of setting up fishmeal factories in other areas around the coast and that will ensure that no fisherman will have to dump his fish back into the sea. There will be a market for every single fish caught.
That is my aim. That is the aim of the board. Those are the lines along which we are travelling. We want to ensure that there will be no question of loss so far as our fishermen are concerned and I am principally and primarily concerned with ensuring that our fishermen will have a good living and are adequately paid for their labour. Fishermen themselves, and the advancement and promotion of the industry as far as they are concerned, are what I am concerned with.
This Bill is asking for approval for a further £500,000 so that the board may continue with the good work of advancing the interests of the fishing industry and endeavouring to bring about an increased measure of prosperity in that respect; so that the board may have further funds available for the erection of ice plants, for the opening of distribution depots and for the extension, if necessary, of our boatyards, for the building of further boats and the provision of more gear and for the speeding up of the advance of the fishing industry on a much quicker scale to a sound future. The board has an extensive programme in mind and at the end of four years, we hope to be able to look back on a period of proud achievement.
Since its setting up under the Sea Fisheries Act of 1952, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara has done a marvellous job of work. I feel that, when we look back on the great amount of good work done for the fishing industry on the limited sum of £500,000, we can assure ourselves that, if the same progress is made in the next four years with a further £500,000, we will be able to look upon the fishing industry as an industry we can be proud of.
I have noted carefully the observations of Senators in the debate and if I have not fully replied to these observations, I will bear them in mind and have them examined. I can assure Senators that any time they have a problem in relation to the Department of Fisheries, the knob of my office door is ready to their hands. I am always prepared to listen and to be taught, and that is why I like discussing these problems with people who probably know more about them than I do. If Senators have any problems, I want to assure them that they are very welcome to bring them to me. I am prepared to listen to their problems and to do what I possibly can to help them in every way.