asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government have made any arrangements with the British Navy or the British Royal Air Force in relation to fishery protection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Protection.
13.
The answer to the Deputy's question is no. I might add that discussions of a technical nature have however taken place between the Irish and British Fisheries Departments aimed at avoiding confusion in the marginal areas.
Is the Minister aware that on 16th February, the Minister for Fisheries, Deputy Donegan, stated that Ireland was now being assisted by the British in monitoring the movement of foreign trawlers and that information from British naval vessels and Nimrod aircraft was being relayed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and then to Irish fishery protection vessels? Is the Minister for Foreign Affairs now indicating that this was a grossly irresponsible and erroneous statement by the Minister for Fisheries at that time?
The Deputy is confused. The Deputy is aware that both to the south-west and north-west of Ireland there is a dispute between ourselves and the United Kingdom Government as to our jurisdiction; the area to the north-west being particularly substantial. The problem arises, therefore, of the fishery protection arrangements to be undertaken there vis-á-vis third countries within and outside the Community. The arrangements are such that in accordance with international practice both countries will patrol in these areas and will exchange information in the event of coming across cases of infringement by, for example, Soviet vessels. That exchange of information is a normal procedure. This, indeed, is the normal arrangement where there is a dispute of this kind. It is an arrangement which operates, for example, between Norway and the Soviet Union, members of two opposed defence blocs. It can also operate satisfactorily between two members of the European Community.
Is the Minister aware that he answered no to the question in his reply and then answered yes to the supplementary? Can the Minister indicate if the Minister for Fisheries was correct in his statement of 16th February when he said, referring to fishery protection around the Irish coast—not to any particular sector— that information from British naval vessels and Nimrod aircraft was being relayed through the Department of Foreign Affairs to Irish fishery protection vessels? Is this so or was the Minister irresponsible in this case?
The Deputy misunderstands the position. The position of exchange of information relates to the areas in dispute between the two countries and not otherwise. Obviously, it does not arise in relation to waters which are not in dispute. The Deputy may have misunderstood the reply given by the Minister.
The question was, if the Government have made any arrangements with the British navy or British air force in relation to fishery protection and the Minister's reply was no but in reply to a supplementary he said yes. In relation to the con-job done on Irish fishermen, will the Minister indicate if the information given by the Minister for Fisheries on 16th February was correct or not?
The Deputy has wrongly cited what I said. The question the Deputy asked—he chose the wording of it—was whether the Government have made arrangements with the British navy or the British Royal Air Force in relation to fishery protection. In my main reply—not a reply to a supplementary question—I said that the answer was no but that discussions of a technical nature had taken place between the Irish and British Fisheries Department aimed at avoiding confusion in the marginal areas. That was my full reply.
I will allow Deputy Dowling one final brief and relevant supplementary question.
This is a very important matter. Is the Minister now indicating that the Government have made no arrangements with the British Royal Air Force or the British navy for the relaying of information to his Department?
Arrangements have been made in respect of the areas in dispute between the two Governments. No other arrangement has been made.
Is the Minister further aware that the fishermen believe that the Minister——
I am calling the next question and the Deputy should resume his seat.
I am always being told to resume my seat.
The Deputy will not obey the Chair.
I am always told to resume my seat when the Chair is anxious to protect a Minister. The Chair is protecting a Minister again.
The Deputy is asking to be put out of the House again.
I did not ask that at all. Question Time is only a farce.