HC Deb 23 March 1893 vol 10 cc868-9
MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the crews of the strange trawling steamers in Clew Bay openly defied the Coastguards when overhauled for their late depredations on the native fishermen's nets and skillets; whether a gunboat will be sent to these waters for the enforcement of the Law, as has been often done for the carrying out of evictions; who is bearing the expense of defending before the Privy Council the bye-law passed by the Inspectors of Fisheries, prohibiting trawling within Clew Bay in the early months of the year; and whether he will advise the Inspectors of Fisheries to appear before the Privy Council themselves in support of the bye-law which they deemed necessary to frame for the protection of these important Fisheries?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (MR. J. MORLEY,) New-castle-upon-Tyne

The Inspectors of Fisheries state they have been informed by the Coastguard Officer that the crews of the steam trawlers referred to did not act as alleged. When the bye-law has received the approval of the Privy Council it will no doubt be desirable that a gunboat should be employed, if necessary, to enforce the provisions of the law during the early months of the year. The Inspectors inform me that they have no funds at their disposal out of which to defray the expenses of witnesses who may be examined before the Privy Council in such cases. The Inspectors never produce witnesses before the Council in support of a bye-law, but one of their number will attend the hearing of the Appeal in the present ease with that object.

MR. W. JOHNSTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether these "strange" trawlers are not Scotch trawlers?

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

Are we to understand when the Inspectors of Fisheries make a bye-law acting under their statutory authority, and it is appealed against to the Privy Council, there are no funds out of which the Inspectors can defend their bye-law. Is that absurd condition of things to continue?

MR. J. MORLEY

What their powers may be I cannot say, but I will inquire.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman also inquire whether the prevention of steam trawling on the Scotch coasts is not the cause of the Scotch trawlers coming into Irish waters. Why should we be allowed to have the backwash of the Scotch trawlers?

MR. SEXTON

Could not the right hon. Gentleman instruct the Law Officers of the Crown in Ireland to defend the bye-law before the Privy Council?

MR. MORLEY

I can only repeat that I think this is a proper thing to be inquired into.