asked the Minister for Lands if he will take steps, if necessary, by introducing legislation, to prohibit the relaying at Maree, Clarenbridge and Ballinderreen on Galway Bay of contaminated oysters from other parts of the country in view of the grave threat to the livelihood of the Galway Bay oyster fishermen arising from this practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Bay Oyster Beds.
13.
Mr. Donnellan
As the Deputy was informed in reply to a similar Question on 14th June last, I do not accept that the relaying of oysters from other areas in part of Galway Bay is a grave threat to the livelihood of the local fishermen and I do not propose to take steps to prohibit the practice.
Mr. Donnellan
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that thousands of Galway Bay oysters were left undredged last year, when at the same time these other oysters were coming in for 14 days and that this caused great unemployment?
My information is that these oysters that have been brought in, particularly from Kerry, are helping further to build up the industry in that area.
Mr. Donnellan
But it is doing Galway people out of employment. Let them keep the oysters in Kerry and in other places; we do not want them.
The only result of bringing oysters into that area will be to give further employment and provide an expanding industry in that area.
Mr. Donnellan
In what way, for instance? Will the Parliamentary Secretary say in what way it is giving employment to Galway?
In addition to the existing stock, you will have the extra stock and further harvesting of oysters and further employment.
Mr. Donnellan
Nonsense. I cannot let this pass. There are hundreds of Galway people at the moment, small farmers in the area, earning £50 or £60 during the two months and they are deprived of their way of living now because the other contaminated oysters are brought in and the Galway oysters left there.
The Galway oysters could not be contaminated, they are of such good quality.
Mr. Donnellan
But they are left undredged.
When most of these oysters are marketed in France, is it not superfluous to take them to Galway for purification in view of the regulations made by the French Government? It is peculiar to find Deputy Donnellan complaining about oysters going into his constituency, while on the other hand we have representations being made with a view to getting the Department to approve of obviating the necessity of doing that unnecessary work?
That is a separate question.
Mr. Donnellan
I shall have to ask permission to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.