asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he is aware of the grave disquiet that has been caused by his action in imposing on river fishing, advertised as free by many angling bodies, a need for the payment of a licence fee; and if in the interest of the tourist industry he will consider suspending this requirement for this season at least.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Licence Fee.
66.
The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1966, which would give effect to this proposal, is before the Dáil and has as yet received only a First Reading. There will be ample opportunity to consider all aspects before it is finally enacted.
Does the Minister want to impose this fee on those people who have enjoyed this facility for hundreds of years? Is he not aware that its imposition will do a great deal of harm to this modest type of sport?
I should say to the House that this proposal which is in the Bill, and which I hope we will be discussing before long, was brought forward by me in an effort to improve this sport. We want to supplement the income which the Inland Fisheries Trust get from the State Funds to enable them to do a better job. We want them to expand their activities, to take over more lakes, improve stocks in the lakes and rivers and generally expand the work of developing angling as a sport from the point of view of the tourist trade and for the benefit of those who participate in the sport. That was our idea in bringing forward this proposal. We feel it is not unreasonable to ask those who participate in this sport to make a contribution towards the Inland Fisheries Trust so that the sport which they enjoy, can be preserved, protected and improved. We have been discussing the imposition of this licence fee for a long time. I want to say the Bill provides a statutory maximum of a £2 fee but Deputies seem to have jumped to the conclusion that the licence fee will be £2. That is not my intention.
Secondly, we have written into the Bill that persons under the age of 21 are completely exempt, that riparian owners and their families are also exempt. That was the attitude of mind in which we put forward this proposal. It was not to deprive the people of rights they have had for hundreds of years, as the Deputy has suggested. The fishing of the waters will still be free. I do not wish to interfere with free fishing but it seems to me reasonable that we should make this provision for the benefit of the sport as such. However, I am at the moment receiving representations from interested parties about this proposal. I am discussing the proposal with the various organisations interested and I am having regard especially to the effect the proposal might have on the tourist industry. I am not yet in a position to say——
I am glad the Minister said "the effect the proposal might have on the tourist industry". Could the Minister give a rough estimate of the amount he might expect to receive in one year?
It is difficult to say. I could give a much more exact estimate if we had not exempted the riparian owners and persons under 21 years. This brings an element of estimation into the situation, but I think this will bring in between £30,000 and £40,000 a year. I wish to emphasise that the money will go directly to the benefit of the sport.
Should I take it that the Minister has a pretty open mind on the matter?
I assure the Deputy that I am a democrat.
His Party used to be Republican.
Will the Minister be influenced by the contributions in the House, particularly from members of his own Party?
Is the Minister aware of the protests——
After Longford beat you, I did not think we would hear from you for a while.
There will be another day. Is the Minister aware, in view of the protest of Bráithre na Coirbe, whose members are prepared to go to jail——
We shall make our decisions without that kind of talk.
One person I shall not listen to is a hysterical cleric.
What did the Minister say? Will the Minister explain what he meant by "hysterical cleric"?
The Deputy may interpret it as he wishes. I leave it to him to put what meaning he likes on it.
Deputy Coogan knows what he means.
I think it is disgusting.
I wish to put a reasonable question. Will consideration be given to the special needs of the West? Tourism is big business in the West and this may have serious effects. I ask the Minister to give serious consideration to representations from the west of Ireland.
It is something I shall have very special regard to.
The Minister is probably aware that certain boards of conservators asked Deputy Dillon when he was Minister for Agriculture to do this and it was flatly turned down in the interests of tourism and angling, particularly. That is on the records.