Deputy O'Malley to-day asked a question and suggested that the answer I gave to it was not a lucid one. I am afraid I must beg leave to differ from the Deputy. What I said to-day in reply to the question and to the Deputy's supplementary questions was quite specific. The Deputy seems to be entirely under a misapprehension in relation to many of the matters he has mentioned to-night. When this matter of Tulyar was discussed here some years ago, it was discussed because of an Act which Deputy Walsh, then Minister for Agriculture, brought to the House for the purpose of increasing the share capital of the National Stud. It was made quite clear by him at that time, and properly so, that it was that question was under discussion. The National Stud was set up by Act of this House, and, by the Act of this House, the choice was made as to the manner in which the stud would be run. The House then determined that it would be run, not by a Government Department, but by a company set up under the Companies Acts, with all the legal implications that involves, as regards the board of directors.
Deputy Walsh must have been feeling somewhat uncomfortable while Deputy Briscoe was interrupting to say whether a horse should be bought or sold was a matter requiring the Minister's sanction because Deputy Walsh said many times, in my hearing, that it was not. You have the Board of the National Stud set up to do this job, a board which, if my recollection is correct, had all its members, with one exception, appointed while Fianna Fáil was in power. I think I am right in saying that only one member of that board is not a Fianna Fáil nominee. The Board of the National Stud, on this occasion, informed the Minister that they proposed to sell Tulyar. They were not bound to do so under the terms of the Act.
It was not a question, like it was on the previous occasion, when the board had not the money to carry out the act which they wished to do. On this occasion it was a question of a sale and the funds had not to be specially provided. The Minister for Agriculture informed the board that the question of the sale was a matter within their discretion. He takes the view, and I agree, and the Government agrees, that in any question where the stud is concerned it has got to be run directly by their direction. The only alternatives you have are to keep them in office or get rid of them. You cannot blow hot and cold at the same time —you cannot leave the directors in control of the company and at the same time say that you will not permit them to carry on their job.
The Board of the National Stud decided that they would negotiate for the sale of Tulyar. I do not know the reason which operated in their minds as to why they decided to do so but I do know that if I, or any other Deputy, was going to sell a house we would go to an auctioneer and decide for ourselves the most suitable auctioneer to deal with our property. If we wanted to sell by private treaty we would leave it to the auctioneer. The Board of the National Stud decided to adopt what they thought was the best method and I think they were right.
If they, having decided to sell Tulyar, published that fact to the world, and then were unable to sell at the price they thought suitable, they would have done great damage to their own property. They would have depreciated his value without any question if they had dealt with the matter in the way the Deputy suggests and were not able to dispose of him at a price they considered suitable.
Deputy O'Malley stated that he has got expert opinion to the effect that Tulyar was sold too cheaply. I hope he will agree with me that I know a considerable number of people in the bloodstock industry and everyone I met told me a different story. Their view was that the board was lucky to be able to get out at that price. I am not going to suggest that Deputy O'Malley has invented the opinions he quoted and I know he will not suggest that I have invented the ones that I have mentioned. If he makes inquiries amongst bloodstock breeders he will find that the opinion I have quoted is far the more prevailing and has been accepted by bloodstock breeders all over the country.
Deputy O'Malley has also suggested that Deputy Dillon was responsible for the sale of Royal Charger. Royal Charger was sold when Deputy Walsh was Minister for Agriculture.
