asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if it is a fact that several fishermen along the coast of West Cork are being threatened with proceedings and the enforcement of decrees by his Department; if he is aware that in some instances proceedings are pending for the imprisonment of the fishermen under the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, and whether, having regard to the fact that the fishing season has been an absolute failure, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing the threatened executions and proceedings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Fisheries.
Any proceedings in West Cork of the nature mentioned are in respect of long-standing obligations which have not been met and in respect of most of which an offer of substantial reduction has been made, and there are no grounds which would justify such a general course as is suggested.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the position of these West Cork fishermen? The Government allowed the loans to remain outstanding for a long time. The fishing industry in West Cork has been a failure for the past 12 months and, as a result, the men have made no money. Why should they not be given a further opportunity to carry on until such time as we hope better conditions will exist?
Arising out of the answer, I refer the Parliamentary Secretary to the discussion with regard to loans that took place in this House in 1931 when, I think something like £100,000 was wiped out and a balance of £90,000 left outstanding. I think that £9,000 cannot now be collected, owing to the inability of the persons to whom the advances were made to pay. I suggest to the Parliamentary Secretary that he should consult the Department on the matter. It would be better that these loans should be wiped out, owing to the inability of the men to pay, having no resources to do so. That would enable them to start on a fresh basis.