asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he is aware that foreign vessels are continuously fishing lobsters within the Free State territorial waters off the Donegal coast; and, if so, if he will state what steps, if any, he proposes to take to prevent this practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Vessels Fishing in Territorial Waters.
No reports of fishing for lobsters by foreign boats in the territorial waters off the Donegal coast have reached me from the Gárda Síochána, who have powers to deal with such cases, or from any other source.
I am informed by residents of Tory Island that boats have been seen fishing within twelve miles of the coast, and that it is a continuous practice. Would the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the patrol boat has been effective during this time? I have been informed that it is not effective and that many of the boats which fish within the territorial waters are of a higher power and that the patrol boat is useless.
The "Muirchu" is now patrolling the Donegal coast, and has been there for some time. No report has been received in the Department of Fisheries with regard to this matter.
It appears that the patrol boat is not patrolling the Donegal coast, from what I have been informed. There should be an investigation, and I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to have the matter investigated.
Is it not a fact that there are several boats fishing off the coast of Donegal within a biscuit-throw practically of the coast? Is there any power given to inspectors of fisheries to co-operate, say, with the Civic Guards in order to prevent boats fishing there? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that these boats come within a distance of forty or sixty yards of the shore with the registration camouflaged with canvas? Is he not aware of the fact that that has been reported by both inspectors of fisheries and Civic Guards, and will anything be done in the matter?
These reports have not reached the Department of Fisheries. At all events, if these boats are fishing near the coast of Donegal these reports should be sent to the Gárda Síochána, who have full powers to deal with such cases.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Civic Guards in Moville have already reported that they have seen boats practically within a biscuit-throw of the coast with their registration numbers camouflaged?
No. In any event, the Guards have full power to deal with such cases.
What power would the Guards have to deal with such cases? How can they pull them up?
The "Muirchu" is at present patrolling off the Donegal coast, and since she has arrived no boats have come inside the Donegal territorial waters.
Is there any machinery by which the ordinary inspector of fisheries can co-operate with the Civic Guards in order to arrest boats illegally fishing in territorial waters? Does the Parliamentary Secretary not think that if there was sufficient co-operation between the fishery inspectors and the Civic Guards a small boat containing three or four men with rifles could arrest the boat for illegal fishing and bring it within the jurisdiction of the Saorstát?
Where such illegal fishing takes place the local inspectors of fisheries invariably co-operate with the Civic Guards.