asked the Minister for Agriculture whether plans for the setting up a fishmeal plant at Kincasslagh, and ice plants at Bunbeg and Greencastle respectively were prepared and sanctioned by him or his predecessor, and, if so, when.

Plans as mentioned have not been prepared for my approval and there is no record in my Department of such plans having been prepared during the period of office of my predecessor.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary state whether or not the present Minister or the previous Minister decided to close down the fish-curing station at Downings?

My attention was directed to a statement made by an Opposition Deputy in which he stated that the question of the setting up of a fishmeal plant at Kincasslagh and ice plants at Bunbeg and Greencastle was under consideration by my predecessor. I made very extensive inquiries in the Department and I cannot discover the slightest evidence that such a thought crossed the mind of my predecessor. However, I discovered that it was the inter-Party Government that first took steps to establish the present fishmeal factory in Killybegs.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that what was carried out at Killybegs was part of a general development plan for fisheries planned as part of the general Government post-war planning as far back as 1944 and has he seen these plans?

I am aware that from 1932 to 1949 no steps whatever were taken for the establishment of a fishmeal factory but steps were taken in 1949.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary answer the supplementary question I asked—whether or not the present Minister closed down the curing plant at Downings?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there was nothing done worth talking about to establish the plant at Killybegs until 1951?

There is not a word about Killybegs in this question.

This was first raised with the Department of Finance in December, 1949.

It was first raised in 1944.

Where were you then?