asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will instruct the Irish Sea Fisheries Association to cold store a quantity of Donegal herrings for the spring of 1952 and thus avoid the importation of Norwegian herrings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Cold Storage.
I understand that the Sea Fisheries Association are prepared to cold store herrings this season, provided that fish of suitable quality are available at a price which would make it economic to hold them for a prolonged period and that satisfactory arrangements can be made with firms having the necessary facilities.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary state what he considers an economic price for cold storage herrings?
£2 a cran.
And that is the official policy of the Parliamentary Secretary—that herrings should only be purchased at £2 a cran?
No; I think the Deputy should have regard to the costings of the process, which is a new one. It works out that way at present. If it is found in the course of experience that the cost can be reduced, I take it that the price of the fish will be enhanced thereby.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that at the moment we have a glut of herrings on the West Donegal coast and that we find it almost impossible to procure a market for them? This would be an ideal time for the association to cold store those herrings.
The Deputy should know that it is intended, but there is a difficulty at present, inasmuch as the transfer over from direct current produced by the plant at the Killybegs Sea Fisheries Association station to alternating current of the Electricity Supply Board is causing some technical difficulties.
I can appreciate that.