§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on various occasions since the beginning of June a number of steam trawlers have been fishing as close to Bolus Head, county Kerry, as the safety of their vessels will allow and in contravention of the fishing limits; whether he is aware that the captain of one of these trawlers has been fined ten times, another has been fined twice, and that the depredations of another of these captains, who has already been fined once, has ruined the fishing in St. Finian's Bay; and whether steps will be taken immediately to suspend the certificates of Captains Newman, Possel, and Settersfield before they again break the fishing laws and destroy the local fishing industry?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYA statement to the effect mentioned in the first paragraph of the question was recently made to the Department of Agriculture by a gentleman living near Bolus Head. The Department cannot identify the masters of the trawlers referred to, nor are they in a position to verify the statements in the question as to the effect of the steam trawling. Illegal trawling would not be considered an offence for which the certificate of a skipper should be suspended.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the increased use of motor fishing boats in Scotland; whether he is aware that steps would be taken to equip similar boats in Ballinskelligs, county Kerry, were it not for the illegal practices of the steam trawlers, which have destroyed the local fishing industry; whether he is aware that the steamship "Helga" is incapable of policing the entire West Coast of Ireland; and whether steps will be taken immediately to put an end to the illegal action of the steam trawlers in that part of Kerry?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYMy right hon. Friend is aware of the increased use of motor boats in Scotland. No applications for motor boats have been received from the fishermen of Ballinskelligs Bay, and he is not aware that the illegal trawling is the reason why such applications have not been lodged. The Department of Agriculture are taking all steps possible for enforcing the trawling restrictions around the Irish Coast. On the Coast of Mayo and elsewhere the local fishermen-have co-operated with the Department by 551W furnishing information upon which many successful prosecutions have been carried out, and the case of this bay would appear to be specially favourable for similar action.