§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that permits for fishing for mackerel at night were withdrawn from the fishermen of Dingle Bay last September, only permits for trawling by day within a narrow range being given to them, so that their mackerel boats were all idle during the 1310W autumn season, and that only a few permits to fish within the winter range have so far been issued for the season now opening; and whether, for the relief of those suffering families and in the interest of the food supply, permits of wider range for the use of the mackerel boats by day or night will be issued to all those fishermen?
§ Mr. BRACEThe reply to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. Certain local areas were opened to mackerel fishing at night from October and November onwards, and full advantage is understood to have been taken of these concessions. For the season now commencing the Admiralty have opened additional mackerel fishing grounds on the south-west cosat, and all applications received for permits for those grounds have been dealt with.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, having regard to the value of fresh fish as food, the fact that the best fishing season is now opening, and the freedom of the West Coast of Ireland from difficulties that beset the industry elsewhere, whether he will take immediate steps to have permits issued to all the fishermen of Dingle Bay to fish over a wide range by day or night during the season now opening with their mackerel boats, which have been idle during the last six months for want of permits?
§ Mr. BRACEI have been asked to reply to this question on behalf of the Irish Office, and I am informed that applications for permits for mackerel fishing by day and night in an area embracing the whole of Dingle Bay are being dealt with as they are received. So far as the Department of Agriculture are aware, there are only two cases in which permits have not yet been issued to applicants.