asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total sterling value of all salmon grilse caught in the Republic during the year 1965.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Value of Salmon Grilse Catches.
40.
It is not possible to supply the Deputy with a precise figure as the record kept of salmon catches does not differentiate between salmon and grilse.
At an estimate I would say that the value of the 1965 grilse catch was £500,000.
Has the Minister's attention been directed to statements in recent press correspondence as to the failure of his Department to secure the advice of foreign scientists on salmon disease affecting certain rivers and would he, in the light of this, consider it desirable to make a statement clarifying the fact that his Department has in fact sought and secured such advice and is actively engaged in the task of identifying the trouble with a view to putting into effect any available remedial action?
I have already issued to the press a comprehensive and balanced statement on the whole position. That statement received a fair amount of publicity. It was issued in an effort to minimise some of the uninformed talk which is going around. I have no doubt I shall have an opportunity to do the same thing again when the Estimate for Fisheries comes up. It will not come up this evening.
May I direct the Minister's attention to the fact that a communication appeared today in the newspapers from a responsible source suggesting that no foreign expert opinion had been invoked to assist in the elucidation of this problem? I understand that extensive consultations are held with experts from foreign countries when they can be found. In that situation, damage, I think, could be done if a feeling is spread abroad that the Minister and his Department are acting in a dilatory way in pursuance of what is a serious problem.
I am quite aware that there is a considerable amount of ill-informed comment on this whole situation. Of course, as Deputy Dillon has mentioned, we have invoked the assistance of international experts from many different countries. As I say, I will endeavour again to put the facts of the situation before the general public. I issued a press statement last week but if it would appear that anyfurther action by me would be beneficial, I shall certainly take it.