HC Deb 06 March 1913 vol 49 cc11-2
11. Mr. BOLAND

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the illegal trawling off Ballinskelligs and, in particular, to the fact that on Sunday, 9th February, a trawler was working close to the shore; that another cable has been broken near Scariff Island; and whether, in view of the fact that the Prohibited Trawling Areas Act was passed three years ago, he can say why it has not been put into force in Ireland?

Mr. GULLAND (Lord of the Treasury)

The Department have not received a report of illegal trawling having been carried on near the shore in the neighbourhood of Ballinskelligs on the date mentioned. If such illegal trawling took place the person observing it should have furnished the Department with particulars, when the case would have received consideration with a view to the institution of legal proceedings. The provisions of the Trawling in Prohibited Areas Prevention Act have been put in force in Ireland. The Coastguard at Waterville are in possession of forms on which formal reports of cases to which the Act is applicable can be made to the Department. The Department are not aware of the injury to the cable referred to in the question.