asked the Minister for Fisheries if, as a result of the creation of a new Department of Fisheries, extra moneys are to be made available for the development of the fishing industry in 1977.

I have not yet had the opportunity of satisfying myself as to whether additional financing will be necessary in 1977 for the fishing industry.

In reply to a question of mine last week the Taoiseach stated no extra duties were envisaged for the new Minister. We know now no extra moneys will be provided for 1977. In view of that fact would the Minister tell us why it is necessary to set up a Ministry or is it just a vote of no confidence in his colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or in the Parliamentary Secretary who previously carried out the work? No extra duties are being assigned to the Minister.

It is not a vote of no confidence in anybody, least of all the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Parliamentary Secretary. The importance of the industry is growing day by day and there has arrived a point in time at which, because of the denudation of fish stocks and the Common Market situation, whereby very heavy extra duties will fall upon the person discharging the office of the Minister for Fisheries, or whoever carried out those duties before there was a Minister for Fisheries, there is a necessity for the extension and the advancement of the industry which in turn necessitates the appointment of a Minister for Fisheries who will do his best and work very hard in Brussels and at home. A point in time has been reached when the Government rightly took the decision to appoint a Minister for Fisheries and I was lucky enough to get that appointment.

We certainly welcome the appointment.

I thank the Deputy.

And we wish the Minister every luck.

I thank the Deputy.

Nevertheless, his colleague at a meeting——

This is Question Time.