asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider using military aircraft for the detection of illegal fishing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection.
12.
Aircraft of the Air Corps are used from time to time, at the request of the Naval Service, to carry out sweeps of particular areas.
13.
asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of his reference to the matter at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, on 18th October, he will ensure that this country's naval and air forces will be brought up to sufficient strength to protect a 50-mile fishing limit.
The strength of the Permanent Defence Force, including the Naval Service and the Air Corps, is being built up within the limits of the financial resources available for the purpose.
The Minister for Defence made repeated statements, one in Mullingar barracks recently and one prior to that, as to the alleged inability of the Naval Service to protect a 50-mile fishery limit. At this stage, in common with all Members, I would like to congratulate the Naval Service on their efficiency.
This is Question Time, Deputy.
I understand that. Will the Minister now withdraw those remarks and give an assurance that the necessary additional vessels and aircraft will be made available to our Forces in order to ensure they can effectively patrol whatever limits are made available to us? The Minister for Defence undermined the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the negotiations and did irretrievable harm to the national interest by these irresponsible statements. Could we now have a statement that he will withdraw these remarks and give an assurance that additional vessels and aircraft will be made available?
This is nonsense.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if it would be feasible to have Army aircraft used in protecting our fisheries? Could that be taken as part of their normal duty?
As I said in reply to an earlier question, they can carry out sweeps if they are asked to do so by the Naval Service but there is a certain difficulty, a difficulty of which the Deputy is well aware, living close to the coast, in an aircraft establishing whether or not a foreign vessel is poaching. To secure a conviction it is necessary that the arresting agent should challenge and arrest the offending trawler. It is necessary to pursue the vessel and there must not be any break in that pursuit. The Deputy is well aware of those difficulties.
Am I to take it now that it is the Government's view that to ask for additional vessels and aircraft to ensure the efficiency of the fishery protection service is nonsense? Is that the official view of the Government? The protection of fishermen and their interests is nonsense and it is nonsense to seek this assurance from the Minister. Is that the official view of the Government?
The Deputy can rest assured that our fishermen are safe with this Government and that was proved by the Minister for Foreign Affairs over the week-end.
The Parliamentary Secretary has said it is nonsense to ask for additional aircraft and vessels to protect our fishermen. Is that the official view or is it his own personal view?
I am calling Question No. 14.
Surely I have a right to find out what the Government view on this particular issue is when we hear so many contradictory statements from a variety of Ministers?
Question No. 14.
Can we have the matter clarified?
I have given the Deputy plenty of latitude. I am calling Question No. 14 to the Minister for Local Government.
The Parliamentary Secretary answers the question for the Minister, who is absent, and for the Taoiseach, who is absent.