MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government will introduce a clause into the Steam Trawling (Ireland) Bill, appointing a number of gunboats to be placed on duty around the coasts of Ireland to protect the fishermen from steam trawlers fishing within the prescribed limits.
§ MR. ATKINSONNo, Sir. The Government could not insert in the Bill a clause of the nature indicated. The special cruiser "Helga," in the service of the Department of Agriculture, is now employed in protecting the Irish fisheries, and the steamer in the service of the Congested Districts Board has also been made available for the same purpose. The results attained have, so far, been very satisfactory, as during the past six months there have been fourteen prosecutions leading to convictions, and two other cases are now pending.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea whether the small amount of discussion necessary for this Bill will be taken before Whitsuntide?
§ MR. ATKINSONI cannot say.