I move:
That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:
Salmon, Eel and Oyster Fishing Licences (Alteration of Licence Duties) Order, 1976,
a copy of which Order in draft was laid on the table of Dáil Éireann on the 3rd day of December, 1976.
The Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, permitted the increase of salmon, eel and oyster fishing licence duties by order subject to a maximum increase of 100 per cent. This limit was removed by the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1976, which stipulates, however, that an order increasing these licence duties must be laid in draft before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order cannot be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by both Houses.
I propose to increase salmon, eel and oyster fishing licence duties with effect from 1st January, 1977, as I indicated when the legislation removing the limit in the scale of licence duties was passing through the House. The new rates of licence duties are set out in the Schedule to the order.
At first sight many of the increases in respect of fishing for salmon and in particular the increases in drift and draft net licence duties might appear to be rather high but when one considers that most fishing licence duties have remained at the same level for many years and in the case of drift and draft nets since 1848 and 1925 respectively, the justification for the increases is obvious. The revenue from the increased licence duties will go to the boards of conservators to help them with their ever increasing costs of protection and conservation of our inland fisheries. The drift and draft nets account for the bulk of the salmon catch while revenue from drift and draft net licence duties at present constitutes only a small part of the total revenue from licence duties although there are nearly 1,800 of these nets operating.
The proposed increases in the various kinds of salmon rod licences are of more modest proportions but it has to be borne in mind that these licences were increased as recently as 1958.
I also propose to increase the oyster fishing licence duty from £4 to £15. This duty was last increased to £4 in 1975 but it is considered that in view of the present value of the individual catches the proposed new rate is fully justified.
In line with the increases proposed for the other fishing engines the order also provides for increased licence duties on eel fishing engines. The total income from licence duties in 1959 was £26,000 and in 1975 was £42,000 compared with the overall expenditure of boards of conservators, which increased from £81,000 in 1959 to £500,000 in 1975. The latter figure included an Exchequer grant of £300,000. It will be seen, therefore, that the income from licence duties at the existing levels contributes only about 8 per cent towards the running costs of the boards of conservators and having regard to the earnings being derived from the sale of salmon, we feel that there is an indisputable case for the increased scales of licence duty that are now proposed. Assuming that the same number of licences continue to be taken out the total income from this source will be increased to about £152,000.
I accordingly recommend to the House that a resolution be passed approving of the draft order.