asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry when it is proposed to appoint a chairman for Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

I hope to be in a position to make this appointment shortly.

How long has the position been vacant and what is the reason for the delay?

The position has been vacant since 23 April.

Was the Minister waiting to see how Joey Murrin got on?

Is the Minister aware of the importance of BIM to the fishing industry? It is important that the industry should have an active and determined board fighting on its behalf. Would the Minister not agree that it is time to make the appointment and appoint the best possible person to the position?

I will use my prerogative to appoint the best possible person and expect the appointment to be made shortly.

BIM are the board responsible for the development of fisheries and they are like a ship without a rudder at present. They do not have a chairman and have only two directors. There are a number of vacancies which need to be filled. When will the Minister fill the other vacancies?

It is a sinking ship.

Will he fill them when he is appointing a chairman?

I propose to fill the vacancies when I appoint the chairman.

7.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry when it is proposed to appoint a chairman for the Central Fisheries Board.

I have appointed Mr. Kevin P. Loftus as Chairman of the Central Fisheries Board.

Can the Minister tell us about Mr. Loftus' background? What is his involvement in relation to fisheries?

He was a member of the board of conservators. He has been chairman of salmon angling and trout angling clubs and has represented the country on at least two occasions in trout fishing competitions. He has a life-long interest in fishing.

Was not the primary reason for his appointment the fact that he was a member of the Fine Gael Party in the Minister's constituency?

Will the Minister tell us where the new chairman of the board comes from?

This is the second political animal that has been appointed.

He comes from Ballina, County Mayo.

Is it the same town as the Minister?

Would the Minister not have considered it more beneficial to have appointed someone who did not have close connections with politics, particularly with locally based politics in the Minister's own constituency? It would have been more beneficial to appoint a neutral person.

This was not a political appointment.

Are we expected to believe that? We do not.