§ Mr. SCANLANasked if the right hon. Gentleman will direct that measures shall be taken to afford protection to the fishermen of Magharow and other places on the Sligo coast against foreign and Scottish trawlers, so as to keep these trawlers outside the three-mile limit of the coast of Sligo?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSteam trawling is prohibited off the coast of the county of Sligo, save between Streedagh Point and Easky. No application to have it prohibited in the excepted area has been received by the Department from the local fishermen. The Department will, in so far as the means at their disposal permit, enforce the law off the coast of the county in question.
§ Mr. SCANLANMay I take it that the Department would be willing to include in the three-mile limit that portion of the coast of Sligo now excluded?
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes; but, as the hon. Member knows, there must be a by-law, otherwise prohibition cannot be enforced.