asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the inducement his Department offers to retiring members of the Naval Service to join the fishing fleet so as to increase the manpower available for this industry.

Training courses for experienced fishermen are available at the National Fishery School, Greencastle, County Donegal, with a view to their qualifying as skippers of fishing boats. Retired members of the Naval Service possessing the necessary fishing experience would be considered for these courses.

Does the Department make any direct approach to those people to join the Naval Service?

Not to the people mentioned in the question. It is up to them to make application and their applications will be considered.

How does the Parliamentary Secretary propose to double the catch of fish without some method of expanding the fishing capacity?

As I indicated, any of these people can make application and their applications will be considered. If they have the necessary qualifications they can take part in this course.

Have the Department any objection to making this approach?

The Department have advertised the availability of the course for young people and for those people mentioned in the Deputy's question. The fact that these courses are available has been publicised from time to time. If Deputy Gibbons has any person or persons in mind, he should send me their names and I will contact them.

To me this seems to be the only source where recruits can be provided for this industry if the Government and the EEC are really serious about expanding the fishing industry.