§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that English steam trawlers are in the habit of fishing off the coast of Bally-cotton, county Cork, upon Sundays, and that upon Sunday last one of these trawlers was thus engaged close to the mouth of the bay; and, whether steps will be taken to protect the Ballycotton fishermen from this illegal practice?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Chief Officer of the Coastguard at Bally-cotton states he has never seen English steam trawlers fishing in this locality on Sundays, but that on Sunday the 31st January one passed at the entrance to the bay though it was not at the time fishing. On Monday last I informed the hon. Member that a bye-law had been prepared with a view to prohibit steam-trawling inside Ballycotton Bay. This bye-law will shortly be submitted to the Lord Lieutenant in Council.
§ MR. P. J. POWER (Waterford, E.)Arising out of that answer might I ask the right hon Gentleman is it not a fact that owing to the great damage done on the Scottish coast by these steam trawlers it was found necessary to prevent steam trawling within three miles of the coast, and whether in view of that fact the Government have any intention of introducing a similar law for the Irish coast?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am not acquainted with the practice in Scotland, but if the hon. Member will put the question on the Paper I will endeavour to answer it.