asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will increase the membership of the Louth County Committee of Agriculture from 16 to 20 members, as the reduction in the number of electoral areas in County Louth has reduced the number of members by four.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Louth County Committee of Agriculture Membership.
39.
The relevant statutory provisions do not allow my taking the action suggested by the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that there are many such anomalies? In Westmeath where there are 30,000 more people than there are in County Longford, because we have four electoral areas only, there are 16 members on the committee of agriculture, whereas in Longford where they have less than two-thirds of our population they have 20 members. Does the Minister not think the time has come when, instead of electoral areas being the qualification, he should allocate membership of committees of agriculture according to the population of the different counties?
If the Deputy puts down a separate question I will answer it.
Now that I have asked the question will the Minister consider it and give me an answer?
Put down a question and I will answer it.
All right. That is the easy way out.