§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether the "Argos," "Granuaile," or "Helga," have been round the Kerry coast on fishery protection duty during the past month, and, if so, on what date or dates; whether he is aware that damage is being continually caused to fishermen's nets by steam trawlers, and that one owner had twenty pieces of net cut away, an Arklow boat had fourteen pieces of net 1984W cut away, and others have suffered also, although well inside the limit of Scariff Island and Lemon Rock; and whether steps will be taken to prevent this damage before fishing boats are run down and lives lost?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department's steam cruiser "Helga" has been round the Kerry coast on protection duty during the months of May and June. The "Granuaile" had no opportunity of carrying out police work in the locality during the months named, with the exception of one day. Two vessels under the command of the Rear-Admiral commanding at Queenstown patrolled the Kerry coast on fishery protection duty on occasions during the past month. The Department have received no complaints from fishermen respecting damage to their nets, but recently a complaint was received from a gentleman in Cahirciveen that damage had been done to nets on the 10th instant, but giving no particulars on which a prosecution could be based, and since that date the "Helga" has patrolled at night the coast in question.