asked the Taoiseach whether it is the case, as reported, that he personally ordered an inquiry by the Naval Service into the recent sinking of a trawler off Skerries, County Dublin; and, if so, in pursuance of which statutory or other authority he was acting in so ordering.

Immediately I became aware of this incident I decided, as Head of Government, that it was sufficiently serious to merit full investigation by the appropriate authorities, and I so directed.

Does the Taoiseach not agree that the appropriate Minister to direct an inquiry into an event of this type is Deputy Wilson? What powers was the Taoiseach purporting to exercise in giving any directions in this matter at all?

I gave this direction in pursuance of the general power which resides in me as Head of the Government. The Deputy must realise that this incident took place on a Sunday afternoon and at the early stages it was not quite clear under whose auspices the matter correctly fell. It could have been a naval matter, it could have been a fisheries matter or, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, it could have been a matter for the Minister for Transport. The action I took on that day was to ask all the different bodies who could conceivably have an interest in the matter to look into it immediately. Subsequently it transpired that the matter is one more appropriately dealt with by the Minister for Transport under the legislation which he administers and that course of action is being followed.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Now that the Taoiseach has taken an interest in this tragic if outrageous occurence, could he tell us whether he has any proposals to see that the skipper and owners of this vessel whose livelihoods depend on it will be properly compensated and put back in business?

I accept the validity of that suggestion and I assure the Deputy that the matter is being actively pursued by Bord Iascaigh Mhara who are in consultation with the skipper and an offer has actually been made to him with precisely the objectives the Deputy has mentioned.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Taoiseach see that adequate compensation is paid for this extraordinary and unusual cause of damage?

I cannot give a specific undertaking of that nature because the Deputy will understand that the situation at present is that a preliminary investigation has been made by the Minister for Transport with a view to deciding whether to set up a formal inquiry. In advance of that inquiry and its findings it is difficult to decide at this stage what might or might not be done. I assure the Deputy, and I know the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry has this question in mind, that we are anxious to ensure that the skipper in question does not suffer any detrimental effect as a result of this incident.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Taoiseach or the Minister concerned keep the House informed about this matter?

We will certainly do that and, as I said, BIM have already made a very good offer to the skipper. I am not sure whether that offer will be accepted but there was an immediate response by BIM.