asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether priority facilities and prices are beingmade available by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara for fish landed by the three State trawlers; and if, in view of the fact that lower average prices are being paid to owners of inshore fishing boats, he will make a statement regarding the marketing methods adopted by the board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marketing Methods of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
I am informed by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara that such priorities are not extended.
On Question No. 44, is the Minister in a position to give the statistical information requisitioned in Question No.44, which is the quantity and classes of fish landed by the State trawlers during the first ten months of their operations and the average price per cwt. obtained for the fish? It seems a desirable thing that the House should be kept informed if the interests of inshore fishermen are to be protected as to the operation of these trawlers.
There are at least 27 separate classifications of fish and I do not think it would be fair to ask the board to go over the past ten months and to analyse individual sales of these various 27 classifications of fish. I think the work would involve too much time and too great a proportion of staff.
But surely unless An Bord Iascaigh Mhara is bedlam they must have in their possession from day to day and week to week a record of their sales with a view to determining whether they are losing or making money or are they selling fish without any regard to classification or to the cost of catching it? They must have this information.
I want to reply to the Deputy's question. These questions are put down for the purpose of discrediting three particular boats for which advances have been made from the Central Fund. If I am expected to give in answer to this question the details required in respect of these boats, is it not open to any Deputy inthe House to ask for similar details in regard to the many hundreds of boats in respect of which similar advances have been made? I am not prepared to ask the board to give that information.
These are three trawlers operated by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. They have nothing to do with boats sold on the hire purchase system to inshore fishermen. Does the Minister now tell us that the circumstances surrounding these trawlers are of such a character that he is ashamed to inform the House as to what the facts are, and that he will give us no more information?
Is Deputy Dillon not aware that I gave this information to Deputy Rooney on the last occasion?
Why not give it now?
I have given that information and I have given the references to the replies I gave him. I am not prepared to ask the board to go into the details these questions asked for. There are several hundred boats financed in the same way and I can very easily be asked to give similar details on the many hundreds of boats on which repayable advances are outstanding.
On a point of order. I want to know what does the Chair propose to do on occasions when the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary, in the course of a written reply, states that it would not be feasible or justifiable to give the information requested by a Deputy? And in the course of a supplementary reply refuses——
I have not said that at all.
The Chair proposes to do its duty according to Standing Orders.
On a further point of order, what does the Chair propose to do in cases where the ParliamentarySecretary alleges that the purpose of the question put down by a Deputy is to discredit An Bord Iascaigh Mhara?
The same answer applies.
At that rate we all know what to do for the future. We can have all sorts of abuse and allegations in the House and the Chair is powerless.
The Chair has not said any such thing.
You will hear plenty more about the trawlers.
And I will have a reply ready, too.