asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will allow another member to be co-opted on to Kildare County Committee of Agriculture so that the county can avail of its full representation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare County Committee of Agriculture.
4.
The relevant statutory provisions do not allow of the action suggested by the Deputy.
Would the Minister not agree that it is indeed a pity that the goodwill shown by our party in allowing voluntary farming bodies to select a candidate to represent them on the county committee of agriculture should result, because of these statutory regulations, in a cutback in representation? Does the Minister not feel that we have an excellent case for the changing of those regulations now?
I think the county committees had their opportunity, when they were setting up the committee, to have all the rural organisations represented, and this is the case in some other counties. It is surprising that Kildare have not done this already; but they cannot get one over the odds in Kildare.
The surprising thing is that that was never done until our party had an overall majority in Kildare County Council. When we endeavour to do that, we are now being denied the opportunity. Could the Minister explain why it was possible to appoint in a similar way a representative to another subsidiary body, the vocational education committee, without any difficulty?
That is a separate matter.
It is legislation enacted by Fianna Fáil.
Which could be amended if the Government had the will so to do.
Perhaps it might help the Deputy if I told him that the first county in Ireland to bring in all the rural organisations was County Dublin, that I was the man who proposed it and that I was supported by Deputy Paddy Burke at that time.
Question No. 5.
Would the Minister not agree that the good work started by him when in opposition is not now being allowed to continue? He is now in a position, with one stroke of his pen, to allow a representative to be co-opted on to Kildare County Council?
All I can say is that I am taking the necessary steps that this will happen not only in Kildare but in every county of Ireland.
Question No. 5.
Could the Minister assure me that he will now take the necessary steps sufficiently quickly? Up to now our experience has been that any steps he has taken have been phased steps. We should like to see him take now a manly step and allow this to happen.
It depends on the speed with which the Opposition will allow legislation to go through the House.
We will send that one to the Seanad for the Minister if he so wishes.