asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of prosecutions for fresh water pollution initiated in a recent six-month period.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Pollution Prosecutions.
7.
According to information received from boards of fishery conservators the number of prosecutions for discharge of deleterious matter taken by them under the Fisheries Acts during the six-month period ended 30th September, 1974, was 36.
I gather from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that he is dealing only with prosecutions taken by fishery conservation boards. Surely the question is of a much wider scope than that?
So far as fisheries are concerned, I have answered the question as set down—— the prosecutions taken by the boards of fishery conservators—and I am not aware of any other prosecutions having been taken.
Is there any sign of the new Bill about water?
Sin ceist eile.
As the Deputy is aware, and as I have mentioned in reply to previous questions, the question of pollution is receiving special attention. We have pollution officers at work at present. We hope, working in conjunction with other Departments, to ensure that pollution will be minimised as much as possible.
Is the Minister for Local Government bringing forward a Bill?
The Minister for Local Government will reply to that question.
The Parliamentary Secretary is not aware of it?
The Minister will deal with questions relevant to his Department.
We are deviating from the subject matter of Question No. 7.
In the course of his reply the Parliamentary Secretary mentioned 36 prosecutions as having been taken. Could he say how many of those were successful?
Eleven cases have been heard; 25 are pending and, of the cases heard, the prosecutions were successful in seven cases and judgment has been withheld in three.