Fish catch projection and harbour berthage
The projection is to double the catch by quantity. Members questioned how this could be achieved without adequate berthage; the Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged the shortage, blamed past neglect, and said the Government was trying to address it. The exchange ended after the Chair ruled that a further remark was not a question.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in the context of the EEC projection of doubling this country's fish catch by 1979, he will state whether this refers to quantity or value.
Comment on this
How is it proposed to double the catch in terms of quantity? We have five major harbours but the Parliamentary Secretary told us in reply to a previous question that there is not sufficient berthage for the boats we have.
Comment on this
I agree that there are not sufficient berthage facilities around our coasts but the people responsible mainly for that situation are those on the benches opposite who for a long number of years neglected this area. However, we are trying to rectify it.
Comment on this
The people opposite are responsible for the problem now but there is little effort being made to rectify it.
Comment on this
The Parliamentary Secretary is admitting that there are not adequate berthage facilities but, at the same time, he is telling us that there are no plans to declare any major harbours scheme.