Detecting submarines in territorial waters
Pattison asked whether surveillance equipment could detect submarines; Daly said he lacked information and invited a separate question, while praising the Naval Service’s fisheries work. Connaughton said the Service was being asked to do too much.
Having regard to the fact that there have been at least 17 known accidents with fishermen involving submarines, can I ask him if the surveillance equipment which he refers to will be adequate to detect submarines in our territorial waters?
Comment on this
I do not have information about submarines. If the Deputy puts down a separate question about the effect of submarines in this area I am sure the Minister will reply directly to him in that regard. From my experience I wish to put on the record the excellent contribution that the Naval Service have made to the protection of our fisheries. The evidence is there for anyone who cares to examine it that the Naval Service have been very successful in surveillance and in the control of our fisheries limits. Anybody who has been following what has been happening will know that the naval service in particular have been successful in a number of apprehensions and convictions in recent years for breaches of fisheries regulations.
