§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Ballinakill, county Galway, oyster fishery banks were declared public property some seventeen years ago by the Rev. Mr. Green, Fishery Inspector to the Congested Districts Board, and that the rights and privileges secured to the people in the neighbourhood by that declaration are now threatened by an application for a licence for one of these banks by a Miss Duane and for another by a Mr. Gilmour Browne; and whether steps will be taken to protect the rights of the people in regard to these banks.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that Mr.Green did not at any time make a declaration as to the extent of the public oyster beds in Ballinakill Harbour, nor has he power to do so. Applications for licences to form oyster beds in parts of this harbour were recently made by Miss Duane and Mrs. Browne. The statutory public inquiries were held by Mr. Green, who is the officer to whom the Department of Agriculture have assigned this duty. He was satisfied that no substantially profitable public fishery for oysters was carried on in areas for which the licences 1319 were desired, and licences to Miss Duane and Mrs. Browne are being prepared. Appeals to have the licences vacated may, within one month of the date thereof, be made to the Lord-Lieutenant in Council. The areas affected by the proposed licences were formerly the site of licensed oyster beds, but the licences were revoked on account of the non-cultivation of the beds.