When the debate was adjourned on the last occasion, I was submitting to the House that there was no case for either the motion or the amendment. Indeed, I expected a good and useful debate on this, but that debate has not materialised so far. There is now only a little over an hour and a half left.
I am very concerned about one aspect of this debate and that is the suggestion that forestry should be handed over to Bord na Móna. I am very interested in this principally because I am a farmer. I do not think that Bord na Móna is the body best suited to do the work that is at present done by the Forestry Branch. The best body to carry out afforestation is the present forestry staff. They have nothing of which to be ashamed. On the contrary, they have everything of which to be proud. They have done a very excellent job of work. Deputy MacBride gives certain reasons why Bord na Móna should be in charge of forestry but, despite the reasons he advanced, that is the last thing I would like to see happen.
I do not want to level charges against anybody but I think I should bring to the attention of the House the fact that the only advantage Bord na Móna has as compared with the present Forestry Division is their method of acquiring land. Deputy O'Hara on 14th March last asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce:—
"If he will state in respect of each county (a) the area of bog in the possession of Bord na Móna, (b) the average price per acre paid to the former owners, (c) the estimated average tonnage of saved turf which one acre is capable of producing and (d) the price per ton paid for saved turf last year."
The Minister replied that the average price paid per acre was £1 irrespective of county or location. That is the cash side of it.
What disturbs me still more is the powers Bord na Móna have under Section 30 of the Turf Development Act, 1946. That section reads:—
"At any time before conveyance of ascertainment of price or compensation, the Board may, subject to the subsequent provisions of this section and for the purpose of exercising or performing any of his functions, do all or any of the following things:—
(a) enter on and take possession of any land;
(b) exercise any right which the Board is authorised by this Act to acquire;
(c) terminate, restrict or otherwise interfere with any easement or other property or right which the Board is authorised by this Act to terminate, to restrict or otherwise interfere with;"
Later on in sub-section (3) the Act stipulates that:—
"The Board shall not—
(a) enter on or take possession of any land under this section without giving to the occupier of such land at least one month's, or, in the case of an occupied dwelling-house, three months' previous notice in writing of its intention to do so,"