asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the statement made by him on the 21st April, 1926, in the Dáil to the effect that if the experiment of tobacco-growing could be wound up the Executive Council would be prepared to consider any losses that may have been incurred by growers or others, he will receive a deputation from the Meath Tobacco Growers' Association to discuss with him the question of compensation on the winding-up of the experiment of tobacco-growing.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TOBACCO-GROWING EXPERIMENT.
I have been in consultation with the Minister for Lands and Agriculture in this matter, and it is clear that as the scheme of experiments in tobacco-growing was arranged in 1914 between the Government and the re-handlers alone, and no agreement was concluded by the Government with individual growers, no claim for losses alleged to have been incurred by the latter can be admitted.
A claim by the experimenter who re-handled the Meath tobacco grown under the experiment is at present under consideration in fulfilment of the promise given by me in April last. In the circumstances, I cannot see that there would be any advantage in my receiving the deputation from the Meath Tobacco Growers' Association.