asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, there are to introduce a tag system for salmon fishing which would eliminate seasonal fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A tagging and quota system for salmon is one of the alternative measures for salmon conservation being recommended by the Salmon Review Group, whose report was delivered to me this morning. I have accepted this proposal, in principle, and I have asked the Department to consult with fishing interests with a view to its early introduction.

Is that the only suggestion the Minister has in the report he has received today?

I only got the report a few minutes ago and I have not had time to study it. It is a fairly detailed examination and there are a number of recommendations and suggestions in it. In relation to the quota system and tagging system, this is one which I particularly favour. We will discuss it with the industry and I hope to have it in operation next season because it is a system which is fair to all fishermen and has been in operation in other States. It will make a substantial improvement in our salmon conservation system.

Will the Minister make the report available to us?

I see no particular objection to making the report available to Members of the House.

Since under the rules of the House I am allowed only one priority question, I would ask the Chair's indulgence to allow me to ask another supplementary question. Will the Minister not accept that the tag system he talks about does not get at one of the major problems, the salmon at sea. They are now being caught at sea and are not being brought to our shores but are being loaded onto foreign trawlers at sea. No tag system will be able to cater for the big loss of salmon stocks. The salmon are not even reaching our rivers and we have a serious shortage of spawning salmon in our rivers. The tag system does not get at the essential problem, the huge loss of stocks at sea.

I do not know the type of tag system the Deputy has in mind but the general principle is that licensed fishermen will be issued with tags and that the fish caught will be tagged. That tag will remain with the fish. I am not aware of the widespread abuse the Deputy has referred to. In fact, I do not think there is any evidence of trans-shipment taking place.

I should like to enlighten the Minister on this issue. Is the Minister aware that fishermen have told me that this is happening at sea? I am not trying to be contrary but some of our large national trawlers, and international trawlers, are engaged in this, and our fishermen have made statements to that effect. I am sure they will inform the Minister that this is happening.

I do not have any evidence that such a practice is taking place. The main problem, as everybody is aware, in regard to the salmon industry is a national one and not an international one. We have communications with member states and if there is evidence of such behaviour we will deal with it at Community level. There is no significant evidence to substantiate what the Deputy is asserting. Under the system I have mentioned we will effectively control the marketing and salmon poaching that has been taking place here for a number of years. I am seeking the co-operation of the industry to ensure that the system works efficiently and effectively.

Will the Minister take on board what I have said and try to establish whether my statement is true?

I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude and I want to move on to complete the final priority question.