asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that fishing boats owned by foreigners who are non-resident in this country have been registered as Irish and are thus enabled to fish in Irish waters, especially in the area of Ring and Helvic; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any measures to protect Irish fishermen against such evasion of the laws and to prevent encroachment on our fishery rights.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Fishing Boats.
In view of the provisions of sub-section (2)(a) of Section 1 of the Sea Fisheries Protection Act, 1933, there is no evasion of the law by the fact that a sea fishing boat registered in this country is fishing in Irish waters though not owned by an Irish national. Therefore, no action by me in the matter is legally possible.
Would the Minister, by legislative action, protect our fisheries against this real evasion of the spirit of international understanding in connection with the waters belonging to a particular country?
I hope to bring proposals before the Government at an early date to repair many of the lacunae in the existing fishery law.
Can the Minister say if it will include that point?
I would prefer the Deputy to wait until he sees the composite picture.