asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he is aware that foreign trawlers are continuously fishing within the three-mile limit around the Donegal coast, and, if so, whether any steps have been taken, or are contemplated, to prevent this illegal practice.

I have received no specific complaint of trawling within the three-mile limit on the Donegal coast since July last, nor has any such trawling been reported by the patrol boat on its visits to these waters since then.

Is the Minister aware that the patrol boat is not always around the Donegal coast, and that trawling is going on continuously? I have that information from the fishermen around the coast, and no later than the 8th and 9th of this month two British trawlers were anchored in Sheep Haven Bay and got a considerable catch of white fish.

I have stated that I received no specific complaints as to trawling within the three-mile limit. If the Deputy got these complaints they were not transferred to me. The patrol boat has been more often around the Donegal coast than around any other part of the coast. It has been there from the 19th to 26th June, from 9th to 11th July, from 1st to 4th September, and is, in fact, there at present.

I understand that the Civic Guards were instructed to report whenever they saw trawlers within the three-mile limit. Have reports been made by the Guards around the Donegal coast?

No.