asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) the total mileage of rivers in this country where fishery rights are reserved, and (2) the number and area of lakes where a similar position obtains.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reserved Fishery Rights.
I cannot give the information requested as there are no records in my Department from which it could be compiled.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the general dissatisfaction which prevails because of the reservation of fishery rights, and, if so, if he will state what proposals, if any, he has under consideration for the removal of this grievance.
I am not aware of any such general dissatisfaction as is suggested in the question and I do not intend to take any action to change the present position regarding the reservation of salmon fishing rights generally. The acquisition of certain classes of salmon fishery— chiefly estuarine and weir fisheries— is provided for under Part V of the Fisheries Act, 1939, but I cannot say when the provisions for such acquisition may be brought into operation.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these fishery reservations were granted by the British Government when they dominated this country? Surely to heavens after 32 years of native Government it is about time that some Government, whether it be inter-Party or Fianna Fáil or any other type of Government elected by the Irish people, should remove these restrictions and should make the rivers and lakes of Ireland free to every Irishman.
What progress has been made in the working out of suitable amendments to the 1929 Fisheries Act? I thought progress was being made in this respect and I should like now if the Parliamentary Secretary would give some indication when the necessary proposals will have taken definite shape.
If the Deputy puts down a question along these lines, I shall reply to it in the ordinary way.
A pity he did not put one down during the last 25 years.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary comment on my supplementary question that it is about time we removed this preferential treatment?
The Deputy should not repeat his statement.
I have told the Deputy I am not aware of any such general dissatisfaction as he alleges in his question.
Arising out of that, is it not quite true that most of these fishery reservations are let to such people as Lord So-and-so and Lord Such-and-such? I leave it to people to judge whether these are of Irish extraction or foreign extraction, and I think the answer is obvious. It is about time we removed the preferential treatment these people are getting from an Irish Government after 30 years of freedom.
They were made before King Richard came to the throne so we have no very precise information for whom they were made.