(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture the compensation which will be available to farm owners who lease their land to young farmers.
Ceisteanna—Question. Oral Answers. - Land Leasing.
17.
Any farm owner who leases his land will, of course, receive the rent as agreed with the lessee. There is no additional money available from the Exchequer.
(Limerick West): The Minister has waffled away for the last few months in regard to land leasing but with nothing to back it up. Is he aware that, in the absence of any political will from the Government and of any capital injection into the scheme, this leasing, whether short, medium or long term, is not going to be successful? Is he also aware that if farm owners are to be encouraged to lease their land to young trained farmers, which we all want, there must be some incentive for them to do that? Is the Minister further aware that in this system he is proposing, which I accept, he is dealing with young farmers——
We are not debating the Estimate yet.
(Limerick West): I know we are not, but I should be allowed to continue my question.
It is a very long question. It is a speech.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that young farmers who are leasing land are in a different category to the established farmers who are seeking to lease further land? Does the Minister accept that there must be a substantial financial injection from the Exchequer to make this viable?
Deputy Noonan has his lines crossed on the subject of land leasing. At one stage he was reported to be against the concept of land leasing, which amazed me.
(Interruptions.)
(Limerick West): Has the Minister read the White Paper?
The Minister was asked a very long question and he should be allowed to answer.
We got plenty of Green and White Papers over the years, but no action. There were certain obstacles in the way of a reasonable land leasing system here and I have taken this opportunity to put a Bill to the House that will create an environment whereby farmers and tenants will be able to deal with each other on a medium to long term land leasing policy. We have been waiting for years for a master lease, because it was deemed that unless the lease was available leasing could not take place. Now we have two or three leases available. It is also an important factor that the Land Commission will give a guarantee to any farmer who decides to lease his land, either for short or long periods, and that there will be no acquisition proceedings brought against him.
The Minister is waffling.
Has the Minister completed discussions with farming organisations and financial institutions on land leasing?
I have spent many hours with the farming organisations discussing this topic. Land leasing is a new concept and all the problems will not be solved overnight. Rural organisations have a very important input and have displayed that in all their negotiations with me.
Are all the organisations satisfied with the Minister's proposals?
I am satisfied that negotiations to date have been satisfactory.
Are negotiations complete?
No, not yet.
With regard to the acquisition of land by young farmers, does the Minister not think it was a retrograde step to abolish stamp duty exemption for young farmers acquiring land on marriage? Has he any plans for the reintroduction of the exemption?
That is a separate question.
In regard to land leasing policy, have the Government made finance available to fund this project?
As far as this policy is concerned, there is no talk at present about any financial package that might or might not go with it. As the Deputy is aware, over the years, in so far as the relationship between the farmer and the tenant was concerned, there was no money involved.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that because of financial constraints due to inactivity by the Government a farm could not support two families——
That is an entirely different question.
(Limerick West): If you wish to protect the Minister——
Withdraw that remark.
(Limerick West): Very well, I withdraw it. I want to ask the Minister if he can see two families being supported as a result of this leasing system——
I was ruled out of order on a question that was much more relevant than those which are being asked from that side of the House.
There have been far too many questions and speeches on this already.