asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Sea Fisheries Association have considered the proposal to reduce the amount of the deposits on fishing boats from 20 per cent. to 5 per cent.; and, if so, when it is expected that a decision will be announced in that regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Boat Deposits.
I have received the text of a motion passed at the annual general meeting of the association held on 12th instant proposing that prepayments by members in respect of boats to be issued to them on hire-purchase should be not greater than 5 per cent. of the total value of the boat. I am not prepared to depart from the decision indicated in my reply to the Deputy's question of 1st March last on this subject.
Is the Minister aware that this matter has been under consideration for months past and that, when a question was asked on a previous occasion, he said the Sea Fisheries Association was an autonomous body and was, therefore, free to make its own decision? How is it that it is not free to make its decision now?
I do not think the Deputy is quoting correctly in either case. The Sea Fisheries Association can make any decisions they like; but I do not think the Deputy will maintain that the Sea Fisheries Association by their decisions have an unrestricted right to dispose of the contents of the Exchequer. I indicated in the House that I would welcome a continuance of the approved resolution permitting the Sea Fisheries Association to accept 10 per cent. in lieu of the statutory minimum of 20 per cent. which was in operation up to 31st December last. The association, in view of the fact that that amendment lapsed on the 31st December, were in a position to renew it, as they had done several times before at their annual general meeting, and a proposition to that effect was put forward. Certain parties, acting within their constitutional rights, moved to reject that proposal in favour of another proposal, and their motion was carried. I cannot accept their proposal that 5 per cent. should be a sufficient deposit, and I hope that, at their earliest convenience, they will take appropriate measures to enable me to sanction 10 per cent. to any good fisherman who will make a success of a boat but who has not got a large enough sum of money to put down when he bespeaks it.