asked the Minister for Lands if free sale has been refused in the case of the Mordaunt estate, County Wexford; and, if so, if this is the policy of the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Estate.
14.
When a provisional list of lands has been published, the subsequent sale, transfer, letting or subletting of these lands, without the consent in writing of the Land Commission, is prohibited pursuant to the provisions of section 13 of the Land Act, 1965.
Proceedings for compulsory acquisition of the 74 acre Mordaunt property were instituted, and a provisional list was published in October, 1969. Subsequent applications by the owner to sell the lands have been refused by the Land Commission and the acquisition proceedings are, accordingly, continuing in the interests of local uneconomic landholders.
The Deputy will be aware that the determination of lands to be acquired is a matter reserved exclusively to the commissioners.
Will the Minister accept that acquisition proceedings have not been instituted in this case? The only proceedings consisted of a notification to the owner to the effect that the land would be looked at. That was three years ago but the Land Commission have done nothing since and they never do anything with any estate they acquire or that they might intend looking at. The owner then wished to sell the property but he has been refused the right to do so. Therefore, so far as we, in this country, are concerned the term "free sale" is a misnomer and what people fought for in the past is gone forever since the Land Commission have adopted these dictatorial tactics.
We cannot have a debate at Question Time.
I must reiterate what I said in the reply and which obviously the Deputy did not hear, that was, that proceedings for compulsory acquisition were instituted and a provisional list was published in October, 1969.
They were not. May I respectfully draw the Minister's attention to the fact that acquisition proceedings were not instituted? If the Minister can give me any written proof whatsoever to the effect that such proceedings were instituted. I shall accept his word for it but I have been unable to get any such proof from the Land Commission, the reason being that the three commissioners are all Fianna Fáil. It is a Fianna Fáil ramp and nothing else.