asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that, in a letter in the Connacht Tribune, it was stated that boat loads of excellent herrings were being dumped back into the sea at Cleggan, County Galway, and that the Irish Sea Fisheries Association had failed to do its duty in the matter as one cwt. of curing salt could not be got at Cleggan; and whether, if this statement is true, he will require the Irish Sea Fisheries Association to take suitable action in all such cases in the future; and, if it is not true, if he will see that the statement is contradicted officially.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dumping of Herrings.
My attention has been called to the letter referred to and I have made inquiries in the matter. I am assured that the allegations made are without foundation; no dumping of fish occurred at Cleggan during the period indicated and an adequate supply of salt was available for the curing of herrings left over after the demand for fresh fish had been met. I understand that a formal contradiction of the allegations has been issued by the association to the newspaper concerned.
Will the Minister ask the association to have the repudiation published also in the Irish Catholic, which carried the original statement?
Yes.