asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he made representations to, or exercised any pressure on, the Irish Fishermen's Association to secure the dismissal of Mr. P.J. Tuohy from the employment of that organisation.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. WRITTEN ANSWERS. - EMPLOYMENT OF OFFICIAL OF FISHING ASSOCIATION.
Having found that the chief executive officer of the Irish Fishermen's Association was engaging actively in work for a political organisation which was avowedly unconstitutional in its aims, I declined to deal with a committee which permitted its chief officer so to act. I have not, however, sought to maintain that attitude since the organisation in question decided to adopt constitutional methods. At the same time there is, in my opinion, the gravest objection to active participation in politics by a person holding such a position; as it can only result in splitting up the members of his organisation into rival political camps instead of concentrating on the objects of their association and complying with their adopted motto, "Unity is Strength."