I move for leave to introduce a "Bill entitled an Act to provide for the acquisition by the Electricity Supply Board of fisheries and fishing rights in the River Shannon and the tidal and tributary waters thereof and to vest in the said Board the duty of conducting and developing such fisheries and fishing rights as a commercial undertaking and to make provision for divers matters ancillary to or connected with the matters aforesaid."
Shannon Fisheries Bill, 1931—First Stage.
Is it necessary to hand over the Shannon fisheries to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
We should like to have some explanation as to this Bill, otherwise we will have to object.
The Long Title describes the Bill as far as I am inclined to describe it at present.
Then take us as objecting.
Objection is taken. Does the Deputy or the Minister wish to make a statement?
We would like to know whether this is part of a general plan or what reason there is for handing the Shannon fisheries over specially to the Electricity Supply Board. I do not think that the discussion here for the last two or three days would lead any Deputy to be anxious to give the Shannon Board at the present time more duties and more responsibilities. They have quite enough to do to look after the undertaking they have in hands. We want to know why it is proposed at this particular time to vest in them the Shannon fisheries and the responsibility for conducting and developing such fisheries, etc. I think the Minister ought to give some explanation before we are asked to agree to this.
Any explanation I would give of the Bill would be on Second Reading. All I ask is leave to introduce, and then the Bill will be discussed on Second Reading.
When does the Minister propose to take the Second Reading?
14th October.
I suppose we will be able to learn something more about it by that time.
When will the Bill be circulated?
I do not know.
Leave to introduce granted.
Bill read a First Time; Second Stage ordered for 14th October.