§ Mr. CLANCYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), 1211W in reference to the statement made by the Development Commissioners, through the Secretary to the Treasury, that the information upon which they decided to refuse to endorse the recommendation of the Department in favour of a Grant for the improvement of Skerries Harbour was obtained from persons speaking on behalf of the Department, whether any such information was given on behalf of the Department; and, if so, by whom?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIf as it would appear the word "information" in the question is intended to refer to statistics of the number of local fishermen and the value of fish landed at Skerries it is possible that this information may have been supplied through the Department. The transactions in regard to Skerries took place in the middle of the year 1911, and statistics received by the Department for the year ended 31st December, 1910, showed that only two third-class boats belonging to Skerries (with crews of two men each) fished from that port and that the value of the fish landed by them and others was estimated at £500. The Department's recommendation was made on the ground that Skerries afforded a favourable site for further development of the herring and other fisheries.