I move:
That Seanad 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 before Seanad Éireann on the 13th day of December, 1982.
Salmon, Eel and Oyster (Miscellaneous Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order, 1982: Motion.
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.
There is one question I should like to raise and it relates to the incomplete title attributed to the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry. If I understand it correctly, the Minister's full title is Minister for the Gaeltacht, Fisheries and Forestry. I wonder is there anything of consequence in the dropping of the Gaeltacht aspect of the title?
I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I note that the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister of State at that Department are negotiating on our behalf in Europe at present. In the debate on the Kilkenny Design Workshops Limited Bill Senator Lanigan referred to back doors. The Ministers negotiating on our behalf are negotiating for the protection of our mackerel stock off the north coast of Donegal. In other words they are protecting my back door. The order increases duties and fees and it is never a pleasant duty for any politician to have to agree to an increase in duties or fees or in the price of anything. However, inasmuch as the salmon dealers, exporters and fishermen had made representations to have the salmon levy removed, and that the Minister had agreed to the removal of the levy, I am prepared to agree to an increase in these duties and fees.
I should like to thank Senators for their courteous and patient reception of this legislation at this late hour. In one sense I am sorry to be the last speaker in this Seanad, apart from the Cathaoirleach who will be concluding the debate. From the safety of a seat in the Dáil I wish all Senators who are contesting their seats in this election the very best of luck in what I know will be a very arduous and nerve-wracking few weeks for all of them. It is not good to have one's livelihood put on the line at any time and to have it put on the line with such frequency as we politicians have experienced in recent times is not very easy.
I should like to refer briefly to the points made in the debate. Senator Wall wondered why the Minister was making this order under his limited title of Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, not including the title "The Gaeltacht". These are two separate Departments. He is Minister for Fisheries and Forestry and he is also Minister for the Gaeltacht. He holds two offices and the offices are quite distinct. They remain two separate Departments with two separate Secretaries. As Senators will be aware, there are many more Departments of State than there are Ministers. The number of Ministers is limited by the Constitution to 15. There is no limit on the number of new Departments which may be set. There may be a case for having a constitutional limit on that. That is the explanation. It does not indicate any legal defect in the order. I thank Senator Loughrey for his comments on the order also and I wish the Seanad well.
Question put and agreed to.