asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider having a fishery protection vessel based at Castletownbere, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection Vessel.
22.
The permanent station of the vessels of the Naval Service is the naval base, Haulbowline. Having regard to maintenance, logistic and crew requirements, it would not be feasible to station one of these vessels permanently at any other location.
Castletownbere will be included in patrol programmes as fishing activities and other considerations require.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not well aware that the best fishing grounds in Ireland are around Castletownbere, off the Cork and Kerry coast and that, when the protection vessel is based 100 miles away in Cobh, fleets of French and Spanish trawlers can fish there regularly and have no difficulty in being 50 miles away from the coast before a protection vessel from Cobh can come down. There is a great deal of talk about fisheries and the protection of fisheries——
We cannot have a debate on this subject.
This is an important question, especially for the people I represent. Surely a vessel could be based in Castletownbere harbour or Bantry harbour in order to safeguard the fishing interests on the Cork and Kerry coast. Is it not time something was done about it, considering that the port at Bantry is full of foreign fishing trawlers. I am sorry the Minister for Defence is not here, because, being a local man he will probably be aware of what is happening down there. However, I would urge the Parliamentary Secretary to bring the matter to his notice. Surely a vessel could be placed there——
The Deputy may not make a speech. The Deputy is abusing Standing Orders.
I am in order.
The Deputy is not in order. Speeches may not be made at Question Time.
According to you——
Not according to me, according to the Rules of the House.
When is the Committee Stage?