Mr. P. J. POWERasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if the Department has made application to the Admiralty for some fast gunboats to assist in preventing illegal fishing off the Irish coasts; and, if so, with what results?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Cherry)The only illegal fishing which the Admiralty undertake to prevent is the infringement of the territorial limits by foreign fishing vessels. Offences of this kind are rare in Irish waters. The Admiral in Command at Queenstown has always responded to representations made by the Department, and has on occasions told off for fishery service a fast torpedo-gunboat or other available craft. One case of trawling in territorial waters occurred during the past year. His Majesty's ship "Colleen" brought the offending vessel into Queens-town, where the master was tried, convicted, and fined.
Mr. POWERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Tyrone (Mr. T. W. Russell) said that at present his Department was quite unable to cope with the illegal fishing; and that the Admiralty stated in answer to a ques- 1637 tion of mine the other day that if representations were made from the Irish Agricultural and Technical Department for protection, it would be supplied? Has such application been made?
§ Mr. CHERRYI cannot say as to the latter part of the question, but I think the answer I have read shows the Admiralty are anxious to give all the assistance they can to protect from illegal trawling the parts of the coast that come within their jurisdiction.