asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the Wexford coastal waters are being invaded by foreign trawlers which are doing great damage to the local fishing industry; and, if so, if he will take steps to have the necessary protection given by the corvettes in the interest of the local fishermen.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Trawlers.
I am not aware that the Wexford coastal waters are being invaded by foreign trawlers. This area is frequently patrolled by corvettes of the naval service and illegal fishing has not recently been observed.
Last Saturday myself and Deputy Corish were brought to a meeting of the fishermen in that area.
To organise?
The fishermen told us that places at night in certain parts were like villages with foreign trawlers. The fishermen have not seen a corvette except to glimpse it passing by on a pleasure trip. When the foreign trawlers fishing inside the three-mile limit get "the bend" that the corvette is leaving Cobh they get out. There is no protection whatever for the fishing industry in the County Wexford. The county has been invaded by French and British trawlers. Last Saturday one of the fishermen told us that one of the foreign skippers in Kilmore told him that if the fish were on the bank they would "shoot" for them. He made a jeer of the Irish fishermen in that area. The Minister should do something about it. We hear a lot in regard to the protection of industries but we hear nothing in regard to the protection of the fishing industry.
Does the Minister consider that corvettes are suitable fishery protection vessels having regard to the fact that their high superstructure can be seen milesaway? Foreign trawlers clear off before the corvettes come over the horizon. Would the Minister consider replacing them with some sort of decent fishery protection vessels and thus protect the fishermen of this country?
I do not know where Deputy O'Leary gets his information.
Would not the Minister accept the assurance of the fishermen who ply on the Wexford coast and who say that boats from at least five nations have been, during the last few weeks, fishing in the waters around the coast?
I do not know where Deputy O'Leary gets his information.
From the fishermen engaged in the business.
I got the information in the same way.
I have been informed by the authorities—I am sure they are not misinforming me and through me the House—that there are frequent patrols of that particular portion of the coast. We rely upon the complaints received from fishermen in districts on the coast. We have not got these complaints.
Will the Minister take evidence of those who are affected by these poachers?
I will take evidence from anybody.
Deputy O'Leary stated that a Belgian fishing captain boasted that he would, to use a fishing term, "shoot" off the coast of Wexford and would not be caught.
We have a similar position in County Cork and all over the country.
May I inquire of the Minister for Defence——
Are you seeing trawlers in villages at night time? If you are, you ought to take the pledge.
——if he would ask the Air Force in the course of their operational training to devote part of their time to aerial surveys of these points with a view to summoning the patrol vessel when foreign trawlers are detected within the three-mile limit? The effect of such regular patrols being made would in itself be a substantial deterrent and would greatly increase the effectiveness of the limited number of patrol vessels which we have at our disposal.
Hear, hear!
Would the Minister consider that?