asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the quantity and value of dogfish landed at each port during 1983 and 1984 to date.

The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Landings of Dogfish.

* Values for 1984 do not include compensation for fish withdrawn from the market under EEC Regulations.

24.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the efforts being made to ensure that dogfish are processed within the country.

It is the policy of my Department and development agencies such as An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Industrial Development Authority, and Údarás na Gaeltachta to encourage fish processing generally as an industry which adds value to a natural resource and provides employment. Grants are available for suitable projects but the development of fish processing is of course primarily a matter for private enterprise.

There is a growing market in the United Kingdom and on the Continent for fresh, whole, and primary processed, skinned and frozen, dogfish. A number of Irish firms are taking advantage of this and include dogfish among the more traditional species processed by them. A County Donegal project recently approved for grant aid will specialise in the processing of dogfish for export.

Is the Minister aware that while the UK market is good for dogfish in its fresh state, there was a period when the local merchants and coops had to impose a quota on the amount being landed because of the British market not being in a position to absorb this type of fish? Will the Minister agree with the necessity to ensure that greater efforts are made by BIM and the Department in respect of the processing of this species? This is a new development on the west coast and one which could assist those fishermen with the smaller type boats who up to now have depended largley on other species of fish which are no longer available.

There is no need for me to ask the IDA to make grants available.

I did not refer to the IDA.

In the Donegal case the capital grants come from the IDA. Grants are available for the processing of dogfish just as they are available for the processing of any other fish so there is no problem in that regard.

This is another instance of a change in policy that we have not been made aware of. Can the Minister indicate when the IDA became responsible for grant aiding projects in the area of west Donegal?

Is the Deputy talking about the Moville project?

Yes.

In that respect a grant of £45,500 has been approved by the IDA. The Deputy has asked when the change of policy took place and the answer to that is that I do not know.

What attitude are the Government adopting in relation to the protection of the dogfish fisheries in the context of the negotiations in progress on enlargement of the Community?

The question relates to the processing of dogfish.

I do not know of any protection by the EC of dogfish.

But the Minister must realise that the Spaniards will come in and take this fish.

Having regard to the surplus quantities of dogfish, what is the capacity of the new factory that has been grant aided? Is that project expected to alleviate the serious situation in this regard in Donegal at peak periods?

That does not arise on the question.

The processing capacity of the factory is about 1,500 tonnes. I understand that the catch of dogfish is 3,250 tonnes per annum.

Is the Minister aware of the difficulty presented by reason of the food section of the IDA being based in Dublin when the fishing industry generally is based around the south and southwest coasts? Perhaps the Minister would ask the food section of the IDA to place some processing personnel in the regional offices so that people would not have to come all the way to Dublin to pursue applications?

That is another question.

I do not have responsibility for the IDA. The Deputy's question is one for another Minister.

If we are to follow every fish that is raised we shall not make any progress.

Can the Minister indicate the year or the period during which 3,250 tonnes of dogfish was landed?

The reference I have here is to a total annual catch of 3,250 tonnes. No year is specified.

Would the Minister accept that the quantity being landed is well in excess of that and that consequently a factory with a capacity to process much more than 1,500 tonnes per annum would be required in order to ensure that the dogfish is at a premium price at all times instead of having to put a quota on catches?

The Deputy will appreciate that this is a new species of fish to come on the market. It is a question first of putting the processing into operation in relation to the catch.

The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper.

Could I raise the subject matter of Question No. 560 on today's Order Paper on the Adjournment?

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Could I have a written reply to Question No. 468?

Throughout the week Members of this party have tried to raise the matter of the strike by the Customs and Excise Union which is to commence tonight at midnight. About 700 officers will cease working at midnight leaving the Border totally open. It is no secret in Dublin today that there is a move by legal importers to move massive shipments of products into the Twenty-six Counties. In view of that I cannot understand why this question is not considered urgent. If the Ceann Comhairle cannot change his decision to rule out this question I would ask for permission to raise it on the Adjournment this evening.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

I submitted a Private Notice Question relating to the Cork Gas Company to the Minister for Energy and was informed that the matter was not relevant to his ministry. Why could the question not be transferred to the Minister for Labour? If a dispute arises there will be no gas supplies to domestic and industrial users.

I do not answer questions like that here.

There will be a very awkward situation between now and Tuesday when the Dáil comes back.

I had a Private Notice Question asking the Minister for Agriculture if he will seek at the Council of Ministers on 11 and 12 December retention of Ireland's national rules on imports of live animals and fresh meat from the EC and third countries as a protection against foot and mouth disease, and the Chair saw fit to rule it out of order.

That has been hanging about since last June and it has not the urgency required by a Standing Order.

I supposed it had attained new urgency since our renewal of the exports to Libya.

Item No. 5.

If the Chair is preventing me from raising it now I seek permission to raise it on the Adjournment.

I will communicate with the Deputy.