asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what effect membership of the EEC is likely to have on mussel and other shell fisheries at the mouth of the River Boyne; and if he is satisfied that adequate safeguards will be negotiated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Boyne Fisheries.
34.
Pending the outcome of the negotiations in regard to the EEC fisheries policy it would not be appropriate for me to endeavour to forecast the effect of EEC membership on individual fisheries.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to make a general statement about the likely effects on inshore shell fisheries in general, without picking out the Boyne?
As I said in the reply, it is impossible for me to deal with individual fisheries as such but I should like to say, if this information is any good to the Deputy, that I am very much alive to the need to preserve our stocks of fish. This applies to all types of fish. We are having constant meetings with the representatives of the fishermen with a view to conservation of stock. We are very much alive to this problem and we hope that at our next meeting some definite agreement will be arrived at as to how best to conserve stocks of fish.
I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to ensure that the particular needs of the Boyne estuary are borne in mind when arrangements are being made in relation to shellfish.
I thought Fine Gael were in favour of going into the Common Market along with Fianna Fáil, despite the resolution passed by the Mornington-Laytown Fine Gael Club. They passed resolutions about Fine Gael policy.
I just want to say, in case there is any misunderstanding about the question of the conservation of stock, that leaving the EEC out of it entirely, there is still need to conserve the stocks of fish for our own fishermen.
The Parliamentary Secretary must know that this particular fishery has been investigated by successive Governments since the State took over and that every effort made to improve it has failed and surely he does not say that the EEC will make any difference?
I have not said that. I do not want to get the EEC mixed up with the need to conserve stocks of fish.