asked the Minister for Lands if Herr Echoff's holding at Keelavanogue, Bantry, County Cork, has been acquired by the Land Commission; and, if so, when it is proposed to allot it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Land Acquisition.
29.
Proceedings for compulsory acquisition of this 104 acre property have not yet been completed. The owner resides in Germany and this has made the conduct of negotiations rather difficult.
A question of the exclusion of portion of the estate for direct sale to a neighbouring smallholder has now arisen.
What is happening to this? Will the Minister not accept that he gave me this kind of reply 15 or 16 months ago or at least more than 12 months ago? Is there some manoeuvring now on the part of the Department not to acquire this holding and to give it over to some private individual thereby depriving the small farmers who are waiting on its allotment of the opportunity of getting a parcel of land? When will the negotiations be completed?
I have no more information than I have already given to the Deputy. There is an offer for the purchase of 45 acres by one of the congests.
In view of the Minister's statement in the Dáil more than 12 months ago that this land was being taken over by the Land Commission for division amongst the local small-holders, surely it is not now proposed to go back on that? If it is there is no use in asking questions here and no use in expecting truthful definite statements from Ministers. There is a big principle involved here. Does the Minister not agree?
This is absured; nonsense.
It is not nonsense.
It is absurd; nonsense.
Question No. 30.
Wait a minute.
I have called Question No. 30.
I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.
There is something shady going on. We know there are shady dealings and shady transactions within the Fianna Fáil Party.
I told the Deputy that proceedings for the acquisition of this piece of land were going on—for compulsory acquisition.
They are still going on and you are going to sell 45 acres.
At that stage the question of price was being discussed. That was the situation the last time the Deputy asked about it on 29th July, 1970.
Almost 12 months ago.
The Deputy will appreciate that the owner lives in Germany and that has not made the negotiations easy at any stage. Since that time one of the people in whom the Deputy is interested, one of the congests, made an offer for 45 acres of this holding. The local inspector recommended that this offer should be accepted. The Commissioners have not yet decided whether this should be done. That is the situation. I do not understand what the Deputy means by suggesting that there are underhand methods——
Was it not clear——
——or chicanery of some sort involved.
Was it not clearly accepted that the Land Commission would purchase the entire 104 acres from Herr Echoff? Why now are the Land Commission going back on that assurance?
I did not say that the Land Commission were going back on it. The Deputy will appreciate that these are matters for the Commissioners of the Irish Land Commission and not for me and not, for that matter, for Deputy Murphy. Since the Deputy last asked the question one of the congests has made a cash offer for part of the land. The purchase has been recommended by the local inspector but the Commissioners have not ruled as to whether it should be accepted. It is at the discretion of the Commissioners——
Can the Minister say——
We cannot discuss Deputy Murphy's questions all evening.
On the question of this being a matter for the Commissioners will the Minister accept that he did not deny my statement last week that the Commissioners are not absolute and that there is political interference with the Commissioners in their decisions and that political influence is used by the Minister and by the Department?
I never said any such thing. A Cheann Comhairle, I am afraid you will have to take steps to control this sort of statement by Deputy Murphy. He is talking utter tripe and rubbish.
It is not tripe. You did not deny it.
I treat it as nonsense and I know the public will treat it as nonsense too.
Question No. 30.