HC Deb 16 June 1899 vol 72 cc1360-1
MR. CLANCY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any steps have yet been taken to inquire into the charges brought by the fishermen of Howth, county of Dublin, against the owners or crews of the following steam trawlers—viz, the "Jackdaw" of Hull, and the "Peter Johnston" of Aberdeen; and, if not, will he explain why; and whether he is aware that, owing to the destruction of nets and lines by those and other steam trawlers, the sole means of living of the fishermen referred to have, in several cases, been absolutely destroyed; and, if so, how it is proposed to compensate the victims of the criminal acts mentioned.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

I am informed that one fisherman whose lines were carried away by the trawler "Peter Johnston" has been compensated by the owner of the trawler. The Inspectors of Fisheries have been in communication with the owner of the trawler "Jackdaw" respecting a complaint made by another fisherman against that vessel, and have supplied the fisherman with a copy of the reply of the owner. There is no doubt that serious damage is often done by these trawlers, but the Government have no fund at its disposal out of which to compensate fishermen for losses incurred by them.

MR. CLANCY

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered that part of my question as to whether the Government have taken any steps to inquire into these charges.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

Everything we can do is done.

MR. CLANCY

But is it not an illegality which the Government are bound to inquire into?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

Not necessarily.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Do not the Government in Scotland offer a reward in such cases?

MR. CLANCY

Can the Attorney-General for Ireland say whether, if it be possible to detect the owners and crews of these trawlers, they can be prosecuted for the commission of the offence?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That is a question of which notice should be given.

MR. CLANCY

But it arises out of the puestion on the Paper. Are the Government taking any steps whatever?

MR. SPEAKER

It is a question of which notice should be given.

MR. CLANCY

I have had two or three questions on the Paper, so that the Government have had full notice of my intention to raise this question.