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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Apr 1948

Vol. 110 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Howth Fishing Boats.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that two Howth fishing crews cannot get a boat from the Sea Fisheries Association while the association has given possession of the Boy Alex, formerly of Kilkeel, to a member of the British Air Force; if he is further aware that this boat will not be used for fishing off the coast of this country, but, while bearing the Dublin identification mark, it is registered to fish from Kilkeel, Ardglass and Isle of Man with a crew of Scotsmen, and if he will have this matter examined with a view to providing a boat and employment for Howth fishermen.

I understand that the Sea Fisheries Association has a considerable waiting list of applicants for fishing boats, including some residents of Howth, the delay in clearing which is due mainly to the difficulty of procuring marine motor engines. Every effort is being made to solve the supply problem. I am informed that a boat named Boy Alex has become the subject of a hire purchase agreement between the association and a citizen of the State who proposes to participate personally in fishing operations. This hire purchaser succeeded himself in locating a suitable second-hand vessel at a place outside the State and he provided the substantial sum of £2,000 in cash towards the cost of acquisition. Some delay arose in connection with the transfer of registry as well as in obtaining an allocation of fuel oil, and in the interval no change occurred in the personnel of crew or the port used as a base of operations. There seems no reason to suppose that this vessel will not henceforth be based on one of our own ports and manned by citizens, but naturally the association has neither the power nor the inclination to interfere with any skipper's discretion in the selection of his own crew.

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