asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he is aware that at the sale of seized cattle held by the Sheriff at Clonmel on Monday, the 20th August, a white cow was sold for 5/-; another cow at 5/-; another cow at 12/-; a grey cow at £1; another cow at £1 and three heifers at 50/- for the three of them, to a person named O'Neill, who is said to have a Northern accent; and whether he will state, in view of the extraordinary prices at which these cattle were sold, if he has had an inquiry made into the circumstances of the sale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Clonmel Cattle.
The answer to the Deputy's questions is in the negative.
Does the Minister think that he has no responsibility for seeing what happens at these sales, because it is a fact that cattle were taken to Clonmel and sold at these prices? Is it not a responsibility lying on the Minister to see that robbery shall not be carried on publicly by sheriffs or persons co-operating with the sheriffs who purchase cattle at these sales?
What I think happened is that the face-saving tactics of the Deputy's friends failed on that occasion. They did not find it possible to buy them back as they generally do.
Does the Minister not consider that it is pure daylight robbery to seize two or three cows and sell them at 5/- each? Surely the Minister is aware that you could get 5/- worth of black puddings out of the blood of one of these cows?
Does the Deputy not know that the policy of his Party is to prevent people bidding at these sales and that on this particular occasion the roads were blocked with fallen trees to prevent people going to this particular place?
Is it the Minister's policy to ignore the conduct of these sales and to allow farmers to be robbed of their property in this way?
That is their own responsibility.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, bearing in mind that it is the Minister's policy to ensure that sheriff's sales are conducted in public, is he taking any precautions to ensure that any citizen who presents himself for admission to a sale is not prevented from attending either by uniformed or un-uniformed members of the Gárda Síochána?
Persons who, the Guards and sheriff are satisfied, go there on legitimate business for the purpose of bidding at these sales, will not be prevented from going there. We know what has happened at some of these sales, and it is the duty of the Guards to see that disturbers are not allowed into the sales.
Will the Minister not take steps to discourage that type of bidding so that people will not be robbed of their property by having cattle sold at 5/- or even 12/- per head?