At the outset I desire to mention, for the information of Senators, that in the absence of both the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister of State at the Department of Fisheries and Forestry at a meeting in Brussels of the Council of Fisheries Ministers I am speaking on this motion on their joint behalf.
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 1 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, the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry has taken into consideration the rates of inflation since January 1977 and January 1981 and also the fact 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 the Department of Fisheries and Forestry by salmon dealers, exporters 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. The total income from these licence duties and fees is estimated at more than £300,000 a year which represents a worth-while contribution from the fishermen, dealers and exporters who benefit directly from the industry. Indeed, representatives of salmon dealers, exporters and fishermen, in meetings with officials of the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, indicated their agreement to increased licence duties and fees in place of the salmon levy.
I may say also that the decision to have the draft order laid before this House and to arrange for the moving in this House of a motion for a resolution approving the draft order was taken by the previous Government earlier this month. I accordingly recommend to the House that a resolution be passed approving of the draft order.