Vol. 242 No. 3
asked the Minister for Defence if the three Irish Naval Service corvettes which patrol the Republic's territorial waters were out of commission for some time; if so, why; the cost of any repair work carried out during this period; and when all three ships will again be on duty in view of serious reports of foreign trawlers fishing at night within the limit.
89.
asked the Minister for Defence when it is proposed to procure replacements for the three corvettes; and what type of replacement will be provided.
90.
asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the considerable indignation among fishermen off the Donegal coast as a result of Russian trawlers fishing inside territorial waters; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the interests of the fishermen concerned.
91.
asked the Minister for Defence the present position regarding new vessels to replace the present fishery protection fleet; whether steps will be taken to reorganise the fishery protection services to place a larger number of smaller fast boats at several different centres to ensure that all parts of the coastline can be reached expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 89, 90 and 91 together.
Due to maintenance and manning considerations, it has not been the practice to have all three corvettes in commission at the same time. During the present year, one of the corvettes has been in commission at all times and occasionally a second was in use. Only one is in commission at present. This corvette patrolled off the Donegal coast during the period 24th to 27th October, 1969, but found no evidence of foreign trawlers engaged in illegal fishing there.
A special refit of this corvette was completed early this year at a cost of about £27,000. It was taken off patrol duties and put into drydock for routine maintenance for four days last month. The other two corvettes were withdrawn from commission during the year for survey. Pending full consideration of the reports of survey, it is not possible to forecast their future.
As publicly announced on the 18th December, 1968, the Government have authorised the purchase of two ships for the Naval Service, one a naval ship with a fishery protection potential and the other primarily a fishery protection vessel. The matter has, in the meantime been actively pursued. Priority was given to the naval ship, but difficulty has been experienced in locating a type of naval ship, already proven in service, which would conform to the rather special specifications which conditions off our coasts demand. Inquiries in relation to both types of vessel are proceeding with all possible speed.
Fishery protection, as well as naval requirements, was taken into consideration before deciding what ships should be got. The possibility of using small fast boats for fishery protection was fully considered. Such boats might have a limited use in local areas in favourable weather conditions but would not provide an adequate fishery protection service, which requires the employment of larger vessels of the type it is proposed to purchase.
Is the Minister aware that owing to very important developments in the fishing industry on the south coast it is now more important than ever to have a good supervisory force and that what we have at the moment is not capable of looking after 20 miles of the coast let alone hundreds of miles? Will he take steps to see in the near future that we have a force capable of supervising foreign trawlers fishing within a few miles of our coast?
This is the idea behind the Government's decision on this.
Would the Minister not agree that our present fishery protection system is absolutely and totally inadequate and has been so for a number of years?
Say yes. Confess.
The Deputy asked me would the Minister not agree that the arrangements were totally adequate?
Inadequate.
Sorry. I would agree they are not perfect.
Is the Minister not aware that during the past week it was stated in the public press that we had only one corvette at sea at the time and that it was limping into some port for necessary repairs?
I am afraid the Minister is at sea.
With all due respects to statements in the public press, they are not always gospel.
