asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the proposals, if any, to compensate salmon fishermen whose livelihoods have suffered through scarcity of fish; the shortening of the fishing week and season; and the approaches, if any, made to the EEC Commission for assistance with payment of such compensation.

I have no proposals to compensate salmon fishermen as suggested by the Deputy.

Is the Minister trying to starve the salmon fishermen into submission?

That is not relevant.

It is extremely relevant.

It is a question loaded with argument.

That kind of supplementary does not merit answering.

In the second part of the question I asked the Minister if he made any approach to the EEC for compensation, because the EEC adopted a similar scheme for herring fishermen.

Salmon fishermen are our own problem.

So the EEC are more concerned about herring fishermen than the Minister is about salmon fishermen?

Is the Minister prepared to consider compensation?

No.

Why not?

I have said no.

There is no money in the kitty.

Order, next question.