asked the Minister for the Marine the closing date(s) this year for the various salmon net licences; and if there is normally an extra two weeks for fishermen with dragnet licences.

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

Following is the statement:

Requests for extensions to the commercial netting seasons for salmon are considered on their merits having regard to the circumstances prevailing in the river(s) concerned. There is no guarantee that such extensions will be granted nor are such extensions normally available for any particular group of netsmen.

Question No. 12.

A Cheann Comhairle, the question is ——

The reply is in the form of a tabular statement.

There may be a tabular statement but the question did not ask for a reply in the form of a tabular statement. Normally there is a differentiation between the closing dates for different types of salmon licences, be it drift net, draft net, drag net or snap net. It was brought to my notice that this year there was no differentiation, that fishermen who use draft nets, that is up-river fishermen, were told that they would have to close down and stop fishing at the same time as drift net fishermen, be it at sea or in the outer part of estuaries. I ask the Minister if he sanctioned this course of action by the fishery boards, in particular by the Southern Fishery Board. Does he realise that there have been different closing dates?

The information I have is a page and a half long, Deputy. If the Ceann Comhairle——

Normally, Deputies should await the availability of a tabular statement. It is inconceivable that one can ask reasonably intelligent questions on a statement that is not available.

It is inconceivable the Minister should give a reply in the form of a tabular statement to a question which is of a very general nature——

It is the prerogative of the Minister. The Chair has no control over such matters.

The Deputy is aware that various salmon net licences are mentioned in the question, and it is on that basis the question was answered.

Only one is mentioned.

Question No. 12, please.