asked the Minister for Defence the progress that has been made towards the provision of a new fishery protection vessel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection.
33.
Consideration of this matter has reached an advanced stage and I expect that it will be finalised in the near future.
34.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will assist the fishing industry in County Donegal by the provision of protection for the fishing grounds from poaching foreign trawlers.
The area off the Donegal coast which is within the exclusive fishery limits of the State is patrolled by vessels of the Naval Service as frequently as possible having regard to the resources of the service.
Could the Minister say what "as frequently as possible" means?
I could. The area was patrolled in the month of June on 11th and 13th; in the month of July, on 2nd, 4th, 28th and 30th; in the month of August on 1st, 19th and 26th; in the month of September on 9th, 15th and 22nd; in the month of October on 6th, 7th and 29th and in the month of November on 12th and 13th and a patrol is in the general area at present.
Is the Minister satisfied that adequate protection is given here in view of the large number of foreign trawlers in the vicinity?
Fully satisfied. There was a radio message from the L.E. Deirdre yesterday and the area is clear of foreign vessels. Very often people believe that vessels are within fishery limits when, in fact, they are outside.
When the Minister says "clear," are the limits clear?
People on land looking out or people in trawlers sometimes believe that vessels are within the fishery limits when they are outside. The Deputy may take it that the area is being well looked after.
They are there and they move in when the protection vessel moves off.
Does the Minister indicate in his reply that when an area is patrolled for one-tenth of the month, on average, three times a month, he is fully satisfied with that patrolling and that protection? Is he aware of grave concern on the western seaboard that the fishing grounds are being poached continually?
It would be a poor Minister who was always satisfied that things could not be better. The first answer I gave was that they are being patrolled as frequently as possible having regard to the resources of the service. My answer to the first question posed to me today in respect of the building of the new fishery vessel at Verolme will satisfy the Deputy that the Government are doing everything possible to see to it that we have further resources and therefore more patrolling.
Question No. 35.
The Minister indicated——
I have called the next question. The Chair must be obeyed at some stage.
The Minister indicated that when an area is patrolled on average three days a month, he is fully satisfied with such patrolling. Is he standing over that answer now?
No. I indicated to Deputy Power that naturally a Minister would not be satisfied when the resources left to him are totally inadequate. It takes a few years to get a ship built. It is not my fault that I was left with totally inadequate resources as far as the Naval Service is involved. At the same time, as far as our resources can go these waters are being well patrolled. The Deputy may take it that we have other means also of finding out whether or not foreign vessels are inside the limits. Trawlermen may ring my Department and get the best of service.
Would the Minister permit me to return to something that I mentioned before, that is, an attempt to integrate the helicopter arm into this business of fishery protection? I am aware and I know the Minister is aware that for the purpose of legal proceedings there must be arrest by a vessel. On the other hand, would the Minister not agree that greater use could be made of the helicopters in the Defence Force to assist naval vessels in spotting and searching?
Use as appropriate is made not only of helicopters but of fixed-wing aircraft for this purpose but the Deputy is fully aware that the legal position at present does not allow arrest on the basis of observation and identification. You have to have hot pursuit which means that you have the vessel which is offending in sight at all times and having arrested the vessel you must then bring it to port before you have a prosecution. Maritime law is not my responsibility. It is my responsibility to give maximum protection to Irish fishermen within my resources and within maritime law which this country did not make. I would inform the House that our ships are on average at sea twice as much as they were before we took office, protecting the fishermen twice as hard.
The Government are at sea.
Order.
They are all at sea.
There is not a man on the other side of the House who ever got his feet wet. That includes Deputy Haughey.
You used the Defence Forces seriously to interfere with property of mine on one occasion. We will ignore that for the moment.
Yes.
May I ask the Minister, admitting that for the moment in so far as the law is concerned arrest by a vessel is a prerequisite, is there not still a large area where the helicopter service could be more efficiently used to assist our vessels in this task? Furthermore, is it not about time that we as a maritime and fishing nation took example from other nations who are prepared to change the maritime law to suit themselves?
The Deputy is widening the subject matter of the question.
I have indicated that this is a question of the law of the sea and has not to do with Ireland alone. Other countries are involved.
Can the Minister state if large numbers of foreign trawlers are fishing just outside our limits and when the protection vessels go away they move inside?
I am not going to state that that is so. I do not believe that such occurs.