asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will advise the secretary of the Foyle Fisheries Commission to sanction the fishing licence applied for by a person (name and address supplied) who was forced to emigrate because of last year's refusal and who faces similar circumstances this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foyle Fishery Licence.
67.
The issue of licences to fish in the Foyle Area is a matter solely for the Foyle Fisheries Commission under the powers conferred on the Commission by the Foyle Fisheries Acts, 1952 and 1961 and Regulations made thereunder. I understand that the person to whom the Deputy's question refers and whose fishing licence was not renewed by the Commission in 1965 and 1966 was convicted in 1964 of two fishery offences.
First of all, will the Minister assure me that the Government are interested in the Foyle fishing industry and will he examine this particular case because——
I have no function.
I beg to differ with the Minister. He has equal functions with his opposite number in the North.
Neither of us has a function in this matter. It is solely a matter for the Commission.
So this is setting up a dictatorship. The Minister has allowed a dictatorship to develop on the Foyle.
The Deputy should have picked a better case to fight on.
Will I be allowed to ask if the Minister is aware this dictatorial attitude has been allowed to develop in the Commission in Derry?
That is a separate question.
With respect——
The Deputy will resume his seat.
With respect, this is a very important situation.
Deputy Harte will resume his seat.
At least 12 people have approached me during the past 12 days——
Will you sit down and listen to the answer. In 1964 the Commission notified by circular letter each licence holder in the Foyle area that if he were convicted of a fishery offence it would prejudice the renewal of his licence. In 1965 all the representatives of netting interests on the Advisory Council advocated that, as a deterrent to poaching, any licensed fisherman who had been found guilty of any fishery offence should not ever again be granted a fishing licence.
This lad was caught coming out of a public house, a rotten net was found in the back of his car and he lost his licence.