asked the Minister for Fisheries if he gave a promise to the fishermen of Beara, County Cork to permit 45 mesh salmon net fishing in the area; and if he intends to implement that promise.

: During the course of a recent visit to Castletownbere I undertook to the local salmon fishermen to review the position in regard to the maximum depth of drift net that might be used for salmon fishing in their area. However, because of the pressing need for the maximum conservation of the stocks I was unable to accede to the request made that the maximum depth be increased to 45 meshes in respect of the 1978 season.

I propose to re-examine the entire range of conservation measures at present in force at the close of the season, and in this connection I will keep in mind the representations of the Beara fishermen.

: Was the information in question conveyed to the Beara fishermen and when?

: I talked to the Beara fishermen last Saturday week and they are aware of the current position. As a result of our constructive discussion, an official of my Department has been with them in the past few days and the matter is understood by everybody concerned.

: Am I to take it that, at the discussion to which the Minister referred, he told the Beara fishermen that 45 mesh nets would not be permitted for the 1978 season?

: I did not tell them that. I told the Deputy that we had a constructive discussion on the matters involved. The Deputy is well aware of that because I had a discussion with the Deputy subsequently.

: When the Minister was in the west Cork area I thought he would do as he did in the Lismore area—increase the mesh to 45. Is not the Minister the author of his own difficulties by making promises that he cannot keep?

: That is not a question.

: The Deputy can be sure that I had a meeting with a representative group of fishermen in west Cork on Saturday week, after which I spoke with Deputy O'Keeffe. At that meeting I made arrangements for an official of my Department to discuss the problems with the fishermen concerned. That meeting has taken place and I understand it was a constructive meeting.

: Will the Minister accept that one of the greatest grievances of the fishermen in Deputy Murphy's area and in my area is that 45 mesh is allowed in Lismore and there is no understanding as to why there should be fish made of one and flesh made of the other?

: We want to see how the enforcement provisions work this season. Depending on how they work in regard to the protection of salmon stocks in the interests of legitimate fishermen of whom Deputies O'Keeffe and Murphy are speaking, we will make our final decision for next year's conservation measures.

: Will the Minister indicate why he has one law for Lismore and another for Cork?

: The Deputy is well aware of the fact that when he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries there was one law in regard to licences for west Cork and another law in regard to licences for County Kerry.

: Will the Minister rectify the situation in County Kerry?

: When the new legislation is made law, hopefully before the end of the year, the situation will be rectified.

: Order, please.

: On the first day after the recess that we discuss this matter, I will rectify the imbalance created by Deputy Michael Pat Murphy in regard to licences issued in County Kerry in favour of west Cork.

: It is unfair of the Minister to reflect on the administrator of the Cork Fishery Board when he has accepted that licences were not given in accordance with the regulations.

35.

asked the Minister for Fisheries if he will allow a deeper depth of net for those fishermen legally drift-netting at sea.

: I cannot see my way to increase at this point the maximum depth of net prescribed, but I propose at the close of the 1978 salmon fishing season to review the entire range of conservation measures that are in operation including the bye-law governing the depth of net.

: Is the Minister aware that many of these fishermen will not be able to go to sea next year because they are suffering such a heavy loss of earning this year?

: Deputy Deasy must be aware that I made an exception in the case of Lismore fishermen because of the strong representations made to me by Deputy Deasy and the local fishermen.

: Does the Minister not agree that the same law should apply in all sea areas?

: The Lismore fishermen took a different view earlier in the year to the view now being advocated by Deputies Begley, O'Keeffe and Murphy.