andMr. Power asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will acquire that portion of the Booth Estate, Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, which has been offered for sale, in order that it may be distributed among local uneconomic holders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Estate.
62.
I shall arrange to have the Deputies' representations brought to the attention of the Land Commission. There are at present no proceedings for the acquisition of any part of these lands.
Is the Minister aware that it is believed in the Ballymore Eustace area that a land speculator from County Dublin bought this particular portion of the Booth estate and does he not agree that this is contrary to Government policy in view of the very large number of small uneconomic holdings in the locality?
I have no information as to that but as I have said the matter will be brought to the attention of the Land Commission.
Does the Minister think it is fair to the uneconomic holders in Ballymore Eustace that they should be burdened next winter with the responsibility of having to feed Deputy Keating's dying animals as they did in Tallaght, Co. Dublin?
I have no information about that.
Would the Chair advise me as to how I might protect myself in these circumstances——
Buy a load of hay.
Deputy Keating is entitled to reply to the accusation that has been made but there can be no debate on the question.
There was no accusation made. He was making a scandalous imputation about what might happen during the coming winter, just in an effort to smear——
(Interruptions.)
Why do they not get the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries to go up and dig his potatoes in County Donegal? For three years in a row he did not dig his potatoes.
That does not arise.
Why does the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries not dig his potatoes?
That does not arise on this. The Deputy should control himself.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries has a farm in County Donegal and he has never cut his crops or dug his potatoes. I am putting this in the records of the House for the benefit of Deputies like Deputy Foley who do not know that.
Would Deputy Harte please control himself?
(Interruptions.)
I want to ask the Minister if he has any information that this land was purchased with money that was wrung out of the corporation?
I have no such information.
Question No. 63.