asked the Minister for Defence the progress which is being made in the purchase of suitable vessels for fishery protection; and if he will investigate the possibility of purchasing high powered trawlers which could be adapted for fishery protection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection Vessels.
129.
Considerable preparatory work has been done in relation to both the naval vessel and the fishery protection vessel the purchase of which was authorised by the Government. Towards the end of December last an inspection was made of a fishery protection vessel on which the new vessel to be purchased might be modelled. It would not be in the public interest to disclose at this stage the development which have taken place since the inspection.
Various offers of trawlers, for sale or on charter, have been examined but the vessels have been found to be unsuitable.
Could the Minister inform the House what fishery protection is now available?
The Deputy is probably aware that for some time two of the three corvettes have been out of commission. I cannot say what the position is in regard to the remaining corvette because it is a quite unrelated question.
Is it possible that we might not have any protection at the moment?
That seems to be a separate question.
What progress has been made and when may we expect the purchase of this new vessel for protection purposes?
The Deputy should realise that the purchase of fishery protection or naval vessels is in no way similar to the purchase of a box of soap flakes, or something like that. It must be examined with great care as well as great haste. I appreciate the Deputy's anxiety for an early solution to this situation. I share his anxiety and the matter is being pressed ahead with all possible speed.
Surely the Minister could investigate the possibility of purchasing vessels immediately which could be adapted for fishery protection and which later on could be re-adapted for fishery purposes in a practical fashion and at very little cost to the State?
If the Deputy could inform the Department of Defence where a suitable vessel could be procured at a reasonable price and procured immediately we would be delighted to hear about it. The Deputy may not be aware that the procurement of a suitable vessel is not just as easy as that. They are not easily available.
Surely one vessel is not sufficient?
How can the Minister tell the House that this is being pressed ahead with all possible speed? It is being pressed ahead with the same speed since I came into the House in 1961 and we are in the same position today as we were then.
At about two knots an hour.
The Deputies did not listen with much attention to the reply I gave which is that we are pursuing this matter. An expedition went abroad recently to examine a fishery protection vessel of a type we think might suit. It is not in the public interest to say precisely where we stand about that at the present time. The House must appreciate why it is not in the public interest.
Surely it is in the public interest to state whether we are going to purchase one fishery vessel or more?
The Government announced their intention in this matter long ago but I want to assure the Deputy and the House generally that it is difficult to find a suitable, serviceable vessel of the kind we require. They are not manufactured for the open market at all as far as I know.
The UVF have greater control of the sea than we have.
Before Christmas I asked a question about this matter when none of the fishery protection vessels was operating. I was told that the Cú Feasa had been put on the job. I subsequently learned that this Cú Feasa had a speed of ten knots an hour. May I ask if that was a reasonable answer to my question, as to how much fishery protection we had?
That is a separate question.
I have forgotten what the Deputy's question was but I recall that for a very short period some time ago the Cú Feasa was used on fishery protection because the corvette in service at the time was temporarily out of service for a matter of a week or something like that.