asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the loss incurred to date by the purchase some years ago of three trawlers from Germany by the Irish Sea Fisheries Association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loss on Purchase of Trawlers.
Up to 31st March, 1958, the latest date to which audited figures are available in respect of the three offshore fishing vessels purchased by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara in Germany in 1952, the loss was £66,016 including charges—not representing cash outlay—of £31,884 written off for depreciation and £10,000 placed to reserve for classification survey.
Can the Minister indicate where these trawlers were based?
Two of them are used for training and one is down at Dunmore East.
Would the Minister indicate whether he is prepared to send them to Galway in order to put the fish plant into production?
That is surely a separate matter. Is it proposed to continue questions?
I think we should go on to the other business.
Are we sure that there will be business for to-morrow? This is a very attenuated menu to-day.
It would be better to finish questions to-day.
Is there any business for to-morrow?
We have no objection to their being taken, but if there is any objection to their being taken, they cannot be taken.
Is there sufficient business to assume that the House will meet to-morrow to deal with the remainder of the questions?
That must necessarily be a matter of opinion. I would not think so.
So, we are putting them off until next week, if we do not meet to-morrow.
I think we shall be meeting to-morrow.
Take them to-day, if there is no objection.
As far as we are concerned, we are agreeable to the rest of the questions being taken to-day but, if any Deputy objects to that, they cannot be taken.
If the Government have any business, we shall be sitting to-morrow.
The Opposition are so bad they cannot keep a debate going; they fade out.
Spare us.
Why do you not "get cracking"?
You are cracked.
Questions 61 to 86 postponed.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer I received to Question No. 1 on the Order Paper, with your permission, I should like to raise it on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy in the course of the afternoon.