asked the Minister for Lands whether the Government have given full authority and approval to Deputy Briscoe to launch a campaign in the United States of America for investment by Americans in the reafforestation of this country and, if so, if he will state the date of such approval and whether full discretion has been given to the member or whether any instructions have been given to him; further, if he will intimate the details of the campaign, and whether any persons have been appointed in connection therewith and, if so, if he will indicate their names and the emoluments or commissions to be paid to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - American Investment in Reafforestation.
The reply to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the negative and the remainder of the question, therefore, does not arise.
Is the Minister not aware that published on the front page of the Irish Press, on the day following Deputy Briscoe's departure to the United States, there was a statement which clearly indicated that Deputy Briscoe had stated that he proposed to launch a campaign in the United States of America for investment by Americans in the reafforestation of this country? May we now take is that Deputy Briscoe's mission in America is other than what it appeared to be and that the statement he made on that occasion was entirely untrue, false and misleading?
The Deputy is trying to confuse the situation still further. Deputy Briscoe had this idea on his own.
I see.
He will have to set up a separate Department of Lands first.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that not alone has Deputy Briscoe succeeded in talking over the whole Department of Industry and Commerce, because he is now Minister for Industry and Commerce, but that it now appears that he is Minister for Lands as well?
Is the Minister aware that Deputy Briscoe is reported as having stated in America that the annual rate of planting here is 20,000 individual trees? Has the Minister any comment to make on that?
He has not been talking on the price of milk in 1950.
He knows as much about milk as he does about trees.
We hear about it in America before we hear about it here.
(Interruptions.)
Order! Question No. 82.
Deputy Briscoe, I think, will be able to look after himself.
Deputies
Hear, hear!
Nobody has any doubt about that.
We were just wondering if he would let us in on a little of it.
I think he would be well able to represent this country.
Well able to represent himself. Might I ask the Minister——
I have called Question No. 82.
Are you all Knights over there? You must be all in the Knights.
Order!
From what I hear, the Minister has had a few bad nights.
Question No. 82. The Minister for Lands.
On a point of order, I think the Minister for Agriculture should be obliged to withdraw his reference to the Knights.
Why? Are you ashamed of them? I would not blame you.
What about the other body quite close to you? The Masons are nearer to you.
They had something to do with the fixing of the price of wheat.
You lot of Jew baiters!
Who is talking about Jew baiters?
Order! Question No. 82. The Minister for Lands.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
Laois-Offaly competition!
Never mind that at all.
Suppose we had some manners from the Minister for Agriculture——
That would be impossible.
I would know where to go if I were looking for such.
The Minister would be talking about Molesworth Street. The Freemasons are with you there and your policy is guided by the Freemasons to-day. Do not forget that.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Oliver Flanagan is evidently determined to hold up the business of the Dáil. I cannot allow him to do that.
I apologise to the Chair, but I object to the Knights being referred to in the way in which they have been referred to by the Minister for Agriculture.
Questions must be allowed to proceed.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, if the statement made by Deputy Briscoe had not the approval of the Government, and will not have Government approval, will the Minister ensure that Deputy Briscoe will no longer travel America with his hat in his hand?
That is a separate question.
Might I ask the Minister if the only instruction given by the Government to Deputy Briscoe prior to his departure to the United States was to rake in all the cash he could for Fianna Fáil funds?
Why is Cumann na nGaedheal so peevish?
I thought it was the Minister for Agriculture who was peevish.
It is the Minister who is peevish.
Deputy Flanagan has evidently forgotten his promise of two minutes ago.
Could the Minister for Agriculture be induced to make a similiar promise?
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Government have given or intend to give approval to the scheme described by Deputy Briscoe for the issue of long term bonds to American investors for the purpose of planting tracts of land in Ireland, each area so planted to be named after the donor of the money as a means of buying a bit of immortality.
The Press reports I have read made it clear that support in America for the scheme to which the Deputy refers was described by Deputy Briscoe as being canvassed entirely on his own initiative. The Government have not approved such a scheme.