asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if, in view of the unabated poaching of salmon at sea this year and his undertaking earlier this year to the Executive of the National Inshore Fishermen's Association, he will now state the course of action he proposes to take.

Proposals for the protection of our salmon stocks during the 1979 season are at present under consideration and I expect to reach a decision shortly.

I want to bring the Minister back to a statement he made to the Irish Inshore Fishermen's Association on 1 March last when he promised that he would resign this autumn if he did not stop the illegal drift netting at sea that is going on around our coasts. This season has seen not a diminution but an increase and I want to know is the Minister going to live up to his word?

(a) I did not promise and (b) I am not resigning.

The Minister did not deny the press report.

I am not required to deny all these sorts of things. The Deputy should have a bit of sense.

Are the hopes of the Irish people to be raised?

Do not tell me our sense of humour has deserted us here.

Nobody has accused the Minister of that.

Therefore we are not to accept the Minister's statements in future.

Only as humorous.