Much of what I said on the Fisheries (Tidal Waters) Amendment Bill would apply to this Bill also, that is, that we expect to have comprehensive legislation brought in in relation to all fisheries within twelve months. In the meantime we want to leave matters as they are. Under the Fisheries Act of 1925, Section 13 enabled boards of conservators to strike a rate on the value of the private fisheries in their territory. That, with the income from licences, made up their total revenue.
Naturally these rates formed a considerable part of the revenue of the boards of conservators, and if that source of income were removed they would have very little chance of paying bailiffs and other people concerned with the conservation of fisheries. It is proposed, in this Bill, to extend that period for two years and to cover the interim period also. There is also in that section a provision to the extent that, if the local authority makes a grant of more than an equivalent of 1d. in the £, the Minister for Local Government and Public Health makes good that excess to the local authority. These provisions are being renewed for a period of two years, and I ask the Seanad to agree.
