asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the steps he proposes to take to have all fish landings in Dingle purchased in view of the collapse of the fisheries co-operative there and that some fish have had to be dumped back into the sea.

21.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that marketing facilities for fishermen in Kerry have been severely curtailed due to the closing of Dingle fishing co-operative; and if he will state the steps, if any, his Department propose to take to protect their interests.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.

The purchase of landings of fish is a matter for private enterprise, and I understand that a new fish marketing body composed of a number of local fishing skippers has already been set up at Dingle following the decision of the local fishery co-operative to go into voluntary liquidation. Since 2nd February last, the EEC market intervention system, which guarantees fishermen a minimum return on fish landed, has been in operation at most Irish fishing ports, including Dingle.

I cannot understand the reply that it is a matter for the local fishermen. Fish exports are of vital importance to the nation——

Will the Deputy please put a question?

I am trying to get across the point that Dingle, which was one of our biggest fishing ports during the war years and subsequently, is completely restricted. Two factories have closed down——

We must proceed by way of question in accordance with Standing Orders.

It is a serious position for Dingle and for the nation that we have no sales organisation——

Statements of that kind are not in order. I want to help the Deputy to elicit information, but it must be done on the proper lines.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary state what steps he intends to take to prevent the dumping of fish back into the sea? We are not catching enough fish as it is.

I cannot say why the fishermen's co-operative society in Dingle went out of business. Since then five of their leading members have formed a society to sell fish at Dingle and the new group are presently engaged in the sale of fish. I should like to refer to newspaper reports that indicated that fish were dumped into Dingle Bay. If it happened, I disapprove entirely of such action. To comply with the EEC regulations, to get the intervention price of fish that are not saleable at the standard EEC price, it is not necessary to dump them into the sea. They can be given to a charitable organisation. I do not know if this dumping took place because I am only relying on newspaper reports, but if it occurred I am bound to say that it is quite out of place in 1976.

The Parliamentary Secretary has some doubt about the dumping of fish but I can assure him that it took place this week. The co-operative movement in Dingle needed freezing facilities which they had not got. I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary to get his Department to find some way so that the fish landed may be purchased and transferred to the market areas. Dingle is a very considerable distance away and it is difficult to get to the markets. It is not too much to ask that some help be given in the matter.

I understand some of the local fishermen are negotiating with Gaeltarra Éireann regarding the processing factories, but I also understand that there is some difficulty as to who actually represents the Dingle fishermen. I assume that the groups possibly do not agree among themselves.

It is a bad situation, and the Parliamentary Secretary should do what he can to help.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary accept that in the past the fishermen's co-operatives did not appear to be getting the grants that were available and that private enterprise was encouraged? They have now left the area but they were not a help to the fishermen. Furthermore, is the Parliamentary Secretary telling the House that he has not confirmed the position in relation to the dumping of fish in Dingle? This has been in the media for quite a while. Is it a fact that he has not confirmed it for himself as the person responsible?

It is said that people in Dingle and elsewhere dump fish into the sea. As I indicated clearly, I have it from newspaper reports that this did happen.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary investigated it.

There is no need for it to happen. The Dingle Co-operative fishermen, like any other association of fishermen, have received every consideration they are entitled to from the Department since this Government took office.

Except action.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary's only means of informing himself about the activities of his own Department through reading the newspapers? Has he not established the facts of the matter about the dumping of fish in Dingle for himself?

I do not think I should waste the time of the House in replying to that type of question from Deputy Gibbons.

It is serious question. Surely the Parliamentary Secretary has an inspector he could send down.

I have a Private Notice Question to deal with.

Before you go on to that, Sir, I am assuming there will be no Question Time tomorrow. If my assumption is right, could I have a written reply to Questions Nos. 31 and 33 on today's Order Paper. If my assumption is wrong, I want oral answers.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I should like to raise the subject matter of Question No. 5 on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

An fíor é nach mbeidh ceisteanna ar an gclár amárach?

Níl a fhios agam.

Níl a fhios agat? Muna mbíonn ceisteanna á bhfreagairt amárach ba mhaith liom freagraí a ghlacadh inniu ar na ceisteanna im ainm agus ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl duit go bhfuil sé ar intinn agam ceisteanna 26, 27, 28 agus 29 a phlé ar an Athló anocht.

Ba mhaith liom freagraí scríofa a fháil ar mo chuid ceisteanna más rud é nach mbeidh ceisteanna á bhfreagairt amárach.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 7 on today's Order Paper.

I will communicate with the Deputy.