asked the Minister for Defence if he has any statement to make to the Dáil on the situation which has arisen by reason of the poaching carried out by British trawlers in Irish territorial waters, off the Donegal coast, and if he will inform the Dáil whether, in view of the fact that this portion of our territorial waters appears to have been inadequately protected, the Government propose to take any steps to allay the fears of Donegal fishermen that their livelihood can be interfered with the impunity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Poaching in Irish Waters.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that a large number of foreign trawlers have been fishing off the north-west coast within the three-mile limit, and, if so, if he will ensure that effective protection is given to such fishing grounds in future.
A Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission, I propose to take Questions No. 36 and No. 37 together.
I am not aware that large numbers of foreign trawlers have been fishing in territorial waters off the Donegal coast. This area is patrolled regularly by vessels of the Naval Service and every effort is made to protect the interests of our fishermen. An additional vessel is being assigned for fishery protection duty.
In view of the fact that however creditable the recent effort on the part of these fishermen was with a .22 rifle——
I think that case is sub judice and it should not be referred to.
I suggest they should be equipped with something more effective for the future. It was a very creditable effort.
What source of information does the Minister rely on in cases of this sort?
If the Deputy or Deputies paid attention to the words of the reply, they would observe that those words referred to fishing inside territorial waters. Now, the next couple of questions will indicate the number of foreign fishing trawlers off our coasts. The two things are distinct.
I did pay specific attention to the reply. The Minister will, perhaps, tell me on whose information does he rely. Is he aware that I have seen trawlers fishing within the three-mile limit where there was no official of the State, either a Civic Guard or military personnel, to notice it and, when the Guards are sent for, the trawler has disappeared by the time they arrive? In that case I take it the Minister would say he has no official intimation of such a happening?
I have no official information as to the Deputy's vision, but I have official information as to the adequacy of the machinery, with known vision, that is and was dealing with this matter, long before my time as Minister. There is quite comprehensive and adequate machinery for reporting vessels inside territorial waters. The ordinary layman who attempts to estimate what is the measure of territorial waters and what is not, makes very grave errors. I have numbers of cases where people requisitioned the authorities in a panicky way, stating there were vessels inside our territorial waters. The naval vessels came along and those other ships were miles outside our territorial waters.
Would the Minister not agree that local fisherman would be competent to judge distances of that nature?
I would not. The local fishermen would always claim that a vessel then miles out is inside territorial waters, and that is very well known to Governments from the beginning of time.
Does the Minister not agree that a vessel passing between the Muglins and Dalkey is inside the three-mile limit?
Next question.
I did not hear the Deputy's supplementary.
The Minister need not hear it, because the next question was called.