asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of drift net licences that were issued in the Dublin fishery district for this season; and the number issued last season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Licences.
15.
Eighteen drift net licences have been issued to date in the Dublin fishery district for the 1973 salmon fishing season and 21 such licences were issued in 1972.
16.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of salmon draft net licences issued by the Kerry Board of Fishery Conservators during the years 1970-71, 1971-72 and 1972-73.
The numbers of salmon draft net licences issued by the Kerry Board of Conservators during the years in question are:
|
Year |
Number of licences issued |
|
1970 |
78 |
|
1971 |
75 |
|
1972 |
68 |
|
1973 (to date) |
82 |
Do the figures that the Parliamentary Secretary has just read out not confirm what I said earlier that the Parliamentary Secretary is wantonly increasing the number of fishery licences and exterminating the salmon stocks?
That arises on another question.
That does not seem to arise on this question.
The figures just read out illustrate it.
17.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether a draft or drift net salmon licence has been or is intended to be issued to a minor by the Letterkenny Board of Conservators; and, if so, if he will give details of and reasons for this unusual occurrence.
Applicants for salmon net fishing licences of any kind are not required to comply with a minimum age limit or furnish details of their age, and the information sought is not available. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind and is willing to let me have the details, I will arrange to have the facts ascertained for his information.
Surely this is a matter of some importance that would require further amendment of any order made by the Parliamentary Secretary or the Department? The Parliamentary Secretary is telling the House that there is no age limit in regard to the licences and yet we are given to understand that the main criteria on which the right to a licence is judged is on the basis of earning a living from fishing. This is what we have all been talking about.
This is a long statement.
A minor does not come into the matter.
Unfortunately, there is not an age limit, but I accept the assertion of the Deputy that it is something which must be looked into. Unfortunately, it is not there at the present time. If the Deputy has any particular case in mind where he thinks a licence was granted through fraudulent representations, say, a person representing that the licence was in his son's name, as is alleged to have happened in some case, that is the only way it could have arisen.
Did the Parliamentary Secretary make the requisite inquiries on foot of receipt of notice of this question from the board I have named in regard to this specific type of incident? Can he tell the House whether this has or has not taken place?
I made the necessary inquiries from the Letterkenny Board of Conservators. If the Deputy had been more precise in his question, I could have been much more definite in my answer. This question relates to the fact that there is no qualifying age for a licence. That is correct. There is no qualifying age for a licence, but if there is some irregularity by virtue of the nonexistence of a qualifying age, and if the Deputy informs me of the irregularity he has in mind, I shall be pleased to deal with the matter without delay.
I am seeking information as to whether such a situation has arisen in the Letterkenny board area, under the board of conservators? I have asked this question and I am not being given any semblance of an answer in regard to what I have asked. I am being told that there is no age limit. I am asking did a minor get a licence there and, if so, who was it and why?
The Deputy did not give me a name. A number of people got licences.
We cannot resolve this matter here today.
Surely it is our aim to conserve salmon stocks and to hold the fishing for traditional salmon fishermen, and to be a traditional salmon fishermen surely one must have fished for a number of years. Therefore, a minor should not be implicated.
While it is a matter for the board of conservators I have this information. One applicant, who is about 17 years of age, got a licence. His submission to the board was that he held licences in 1970 and 1972. Deputy Blaney is in a much better position to tell us about that. I shall not give the Deputy his name. The issue of licences is a matter——
We cannot resolve this matter by disputation here today.
The information that was sought from the Parliamentary Secretary was deliberately withheld from this House on several occasions during the last five minutes.
The Chair has no control over that.
But he did give the information finally that there was such a case. Why did he conceal it at the outset? Why only under persistent supplementary questions has he admitted it? Why now try to excuse himself? Will the Parliamentary Secretary now ascertain whether or not this licence held by a minor, whether held last year or the year before, is improperly held, is held in a household where the father also holds a licence and whether there is justification for it? Would the Parliamentary Secretary get after that one?
My information is that this man had a licence in the years 1970 and 1972.
18.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of salmon drift net licences which were issued by each Board of Conservators under his jurisdiction for (a) 1972 and (b) 1973.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
|
Board of Conservators |
Number of drift net licences issued |
|
|
1972 |
1973 |
|
|
(to date) |
||
|
Dundalk |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Drogheda |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Dublin |
21 |
18 |
|
Wexford |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Waterford |
233 |
207 |
|
Lismore |
120 |
101 |
|
Cork |
244 |
182 |
|
Kerry |
5 |
8 |
|
Limerick |
76 |
79 |
|
Galway |
33 |
38 |
|
Connemara |
18 |
29 |
|
Ballinakill |
35 |
42 |
|
Bangor |
23 |
23 |
|
Ballina |
97 |
107 |
|
Sligo |
10 |
11 |
|
Ballyshannon |
33 |
33 |
|
Letterkenny |
208 |
207 |
|
Totals |
1,156 |
1,085 |
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give me the figures?
It is not usual to ask questions on a tabular statement.
I merely want to have the matter clarified. There are only two figures.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I shall give the figures. They are: 1,156 last year, and 1,085 to date.
Those are the two figures I was looking for.