asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make arrangements for the purchase by the State of all privately owned fisheries in the State; and if he will state Government policy in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Privately Owned Fisheries.
3.
I do not propose to make arrangements for the purchase by the State of all privately owned fisheries as I do not consider that such action would be in the national interest or indeed in the best interest of the development of our inland fisheries. I note that this was also the general view of the Inland Fisheries Commission which fully examined the matter in 1975 and on whose report the Fisheries Act, 1980, was based.
What is Government policy in regard to the acquisition of privately owned fisheries?
Government policy is that it is not our intention to buy up private fisheries. These are best developed in the national and local interests by the people themselves as they would be very expensive to run if they were owned by the nation.
Does the Minister agree that experience to date does not support his argument? One of the first fisheries which the State bought in recent years was the salmon weir in Galway and I understand that the Department are making a substantial profit there. That was purchased under Fianna Fáil policy as was the Erriff fishery in County Mayo. Are we to take it from what the Minister said that the Government do not favour a policy of acquiring private fisheries when they become available for sale?
I understand it is very hard to get areas of the same nature as that in Galway and Erriff. They were specific instances and they were bought and handed over to the regional fisheries board. From speaking to the Inland Fisheries Commission my understanding is that they have no intention of buying up private fisheries as they think it is not a good policy.
The Inland Fisheries Commission made a recommendation that the State should acquire these fisheries when they become available. The Minister seems to put a different interpretation on their recommendation with which I was involved.
I disagree with the Deputy. As I said in my reply, I note that this was also the general view of the Inland Fisheries Commission which fully examined the matter in 1975 and on whose report the Fisheries Act, 1980, was based.
Is the Minister of State acquainted with the report of the Inland Fisheries Commission?
Yes.
Is he saying they did not recommend that the State should acquire fisheries where they become available?
Not to my knowledge but I am subject to correction.
The Minister of State must be aware that no money has been provided for this purpose this year. The Erriff fisheries were purchased by the Central Fisheries Board and funded by the Department. There is a subhead for this in the Estimate that was introduced recently. It can be done if money is given to the central or the regional boards. There are a number of very suitable fisheries on the market that could be purchased and that would be an asset for the State if this investment were made.
I have no application either from the Central Fisheries Board or the regional boards for any such moneys.
I do not think the Minister understands what I am saying. At the moment the Central Fisheries Board and the regional boards have to cancel their meetings because they have not sufficient funds to pay the travelling expenses of their members. In these very difficult times they cannot recommend——
The Deputy should ask a question.
If the Minister provides the money there are hundreds of fisheries that could be acquired.
We cannot have a speech on that matter.
As I told the Deputy, I have not had any formal application either from the Central Fisheries Board or the regional boards for such moneys.
I am calling on the Minister to answer Question No. 4.