asked the Minister for Agriculture when he proposes to introduce legislation to implement the Inter-Departmental Report on Land Structure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Structure Report.
7.
As I told the House last June on the Second Stage of the Land Bond Bill, the whole position in regard to land policy, including the Committee's report, is being examined currently by my Department, and I hope to put comprehensive proposals to the Government before the end of the year and subsequently to bring legislation before the House.
Is the Minister aware that the delay in introducing some sort of control means that people outside agriculture are acquiring large tracts of land with adverse effects on agriculture in general, but particularly on small-holders who had been hoping to increase their holdings?
When the Deputy remembers that the committee reported only last July I think he will agree there has not been an undue delay.
The Minister will agree that steps will not be taken until the end of 12 months, and will he not also agree that that is a serious delay?
There are many unsatisfactory feaures about land acquisition and sale and we are proceeding to correct them.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that land acquisition has practically ceased? The Minister gave a warning some months ago that he intended to introduce the legislation mentioned in the question, and though I appreciate it will be some time before it is introduced, does the Minister appreciate that the warning given by him is being availed of by people who are not farmers at all, or who are big farmers, to buy all the land that comes on the market against the interests of small farmers, and that in the vacuum now existing small farmers are at the mercy of the wolves?
I do not accept the Deputy's contention that the present continuing purchase of land by unsuitable people is a new phenomenon by any means or that it has arisen from any warning I may have given—the situation has been like that for some time. We have indicated that we are taking corrective measures and we are getting on with it as quickly as possible. On the Deputy's suggestion in relation to land acquisition, a reply to a related question on the Order Paper will dispose of that argument very effectively.
Is it the case that what the Minister has presented to the Government in this connection represents only the headings of a Bill which may not be drafted for another 12 months or longer?
It will not take anything like that time.
What is the Minister's target in relation to the drafting of the Bill?
I do not think we could have a target from the time point of view for a comprehensive Bill of this kind. I would hope to have it passed through the House before December next year.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely the Minister realises that his warning, as I will call it, in relation to corrective legislation has had a similar effect to the Minister for Finance saying he will tax certain commodities in his next budget some months before the budget? In the meantime that commodity will be bought up just as land is being bought up now. The Minister should hold control of the sale of land between now and the time of the introduction of legislation.
The Deputy is offering information to the Minister.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am asking the Minister if he will agree that it is essential to retain control of land which is required by small farmers.
I do not know how seriously I can take the Deputy's intervention. Our very presence on this side as a Government is an implicit acceptance by the Irish people that we will provide tangible action in regard to acute problems, such as the land problem. That is what we are doing.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Government will be too late—the land will be gone.
Has the Minister not power under the existing Land Acts to control the sale of land?