§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has made application to the Admiralty for gunboats to assist in preventing illegal fishing off the coasts of Ireland; if so, what has been the result of such application; whether he is aware that for years the Admiralty have placed gunboats at the disposal of the Scotch fishery authorities for the protection of the Scotch fisheries; and, if so, whether he has pressed that fact on the attention of the Admiralty.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe question of providing additional protection to the Irish fisheries against the depredations of trawlers is engaging attention, and an inter-Departmental correspondence on the subject is in progress. Under the circumstances, I would ask the hon. Member to defer the Question until after the holidays.
§ MR. POWERI should like to point out to the right hon. Gentleman that at present the Admiralty does nothing for the Irish fisheries, although they place gunboats at the disposal of the Scottish Fishery Board. The "Helga" and the "Granuaile," the only vessels in Irish waters, are provided out of Irish funds.