MR. C. MACVEIGH (Donegal, E.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Conservators of Fisheries of the Letterkenny district, county Donegal, at their meeting on 28th February, protesting against the establishing of whaling stations on any part of their coast; and, seeing that the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) has taken active measures to prevent the pollution of the waters and destruction of the fish along the coast of Donegal, whether he will say what steps he proposes to take, and when, to prevent this whaling company from getting a foothold on any part of the foreshore of Donegal.
(Answered by Mr. Kearley.) Since my right hon. friend's reply on this subject last week the Board of Trade have received an intimation from the Irish Government that they contemplate the making of a bye-law, the effect of which would be to prohibit the establishment of any whaling station on the coast of Donegal. The Board of Trade have also received an intimation from the Arranmore Whaling Company that, in the circumstances, they do not propose to proceed with their application in respect of Arranmore. They have now applied for the permission of the Board of Trade to the construction of a wharf, slipway, and landing stage on the north side of Rusheen Island, Inishkea South, county Mayo. The Board will take the usual steps, by advertisement and otherwise, to ascertain whether there are any objections to a whaling station at this site.