asked the Taoiseach whether in view of public uneasiness at the acquisition by non-nationals of agricultural land, fishing rights, etc., and land for non-industrial purposes he will make a statement indicating Government policy on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Land and Fishing Rights by Non-Nationals.
11.
The policy of the Government, in this regard, remains as was stated in the course of a lengthy reply to a similar Question given by the then Taoiseach on November 21st, 1957. I am aware that there is some public concern, although this is, I think, mainly due to very exaggerated reports of the extent to which agricultural land has been sold to non-nationals. The information available to the Government suggests that sales of agricultural land to non-nationals in a recent period of twelve months have not been abnormal and were, indeed, somewhat less than the yearly average of similar sales for the ten years' period 1941-50. The Government are, however, keeping the position under close attention.
Is it not a fact that one of the top members of the Land Commission, a lay commissioner, stated publicly in Galway that over 100,000 acres of the finest land in Ireland had passed into the hands of non-nationals and that as a result of that statement that man was removed on a sealed order by the Government? In view of the statement made in that regard some years ago by a member of the Land Commission and in view of the fact that no action has since been taken by the Government to tighten the loopholes in legislation which allow agricultural land to be purchased by non-nationals, will the Taoiseach now state, so as to relieve public uneasiness, what actual steps the Government proposes to take to ensure that the terms of the Constitution are carried out, namely, that the maximum number of families are put into economic holdings in Ireland?
The Deputy is making a speech by means of a Question.
So far as I know, no such statement was made by a member of the Land Commission and, indeed, any advice I have in the matter comes from the Department of Lands. As I have said, the Government are keeping the position under close observation.
Does the Taoiseach know that a commissioner stated publicly in Galway that 100,000 acres of the finest land had passed into the hands of non-nationals and is it not a fact that he was sacked for making that statement?
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply——
No. 12.
This is what is known as the big sell-out on top of the big bluff.
Will the Deputy state when that statement was made and who made it?
Does the Taoiseach know that thousands of applications from German nationals are being examined as a result of advertisements placed in German papers, seeking to purchase land in this country and that at this moment auctioneers' offices in Cork are inundated with applications for agricultural land?
Up to date—and we have carried out a fairly exhaustive examination of the situation—it does not appear that there have been transactions involving the sale of agricultural land to foreigners to any greater extent than in previous years in recent history. I have said, however, that we are aware that public anxiety exists, perhaps because of exaggerated reports of the extent to which these transactions are taking place, perhaps because of anticipation that they may take place on a greater scale in future. We are keeping the matter under attention and will deal with it if action appears to be required.