asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends to set up a land agency to ensure that any land coming on the market will not find its way to undesirables and that such land will be directed towards making more farms viable and protecting employment, production, and social structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Agency.
2.
The general direction of future land policy, including any arrangements that may be appropriate for the control of the purchase of land coming on the market, is under consideration at present. I have already had discussions on the subject with farming interests and I expect to be in a position to indicate the proposed approach when introducing legislation to abolish the Land Commission later this year.
Is the Minister aware that almost all land that has come on the market recently has found its way to bigger farmers and well-heeled professional people and that smaller farmers were prevented from buying such land because of lack of capital, although they needed the land for viability? Some of these smaller farmers may now have to sell. When does the Minister propose to change the position? Would he agree that it is now a matter of urgency?
It is no more urgent now than at any time in the past 20 years. We have had this ongoing problem of smaller farmers under certain circumstances not being able to compete. I have a deep interest in this aspect of the agricultural scene and have had many discussions with the farming organisations. It is important to have a bias towards the family farm, but at the same time we must accept that persons who have land for sale are entitled to get the full value of it. That is the kernel of the problem. When this matter comes before the House it will be seen that a balance has been achieved which will help the small family farm.
It is hardly acceptable that the Minister should tell us that the situation has been the same for 20 years. This is not so.
Recently the Chair has been asked to get some order into Question Time and to conduct it in such a way that the questions on the Order Paper will be disposed of on the day they appear for answer. I specifically asked Deputies and Ministers to refrain from making speeches. We had a very good example last week from Deputy Kirk of how a parliamentary question should be asked. I would ask the Deputy to refrain from making speeches.
I have no intention of making a speech but I would be very pleased if we could get accurate answers. Does the Minister agree that the smaller, viable unit is generally more productive per acre and more beneficial to the economy from an employment and other points of view? Can he give us any idea of his intentions in this regard and when, if ever, they will be put into practice?
As I indicated, a memorandum has been prepared and is currently in circulation throughout some Government Departments. The thrust of the Bill will be towards the farmer who has already shown that he is a good user of land. A small farmer is not necessarily a very good one. Land must be used to its maximum potential and it is against that background that a person's ability to farm well will be taken into account. Obviously, we must ensure, through constitutional methods, a certain bias towards farming families who will need extra land to make a living in the future. It is against that background that legislation has run into difficulties over the years and I hope that the new Bill before the House is seen as balanced.
Is it the Minister's intention to provide land for landless people with agricultural qualifications?
The best possible production which can be got from land will be achieved by those trained in farming methods and future legislation should not militate against persons who do not have land but who are highly trained.
Does the Minister agree that a monitoring system is now required because the Land Commission are not examining sales except in the cases of sub-division? A serious situation has developed regarding the disposal of land.
The position is no better or worse than it has been for years and the scare tactics——
The position is much worse.
The facts do not accord with what has been said.
Do not give us that rubbish.
In 1984, if my memory serves me right, almost 80 per cent of the land up for sale was bought by people already in the business of farming.
That refers to the bigger farmers.
I could not break that figure down in acreage but many sales at present are effected by those in agriculture. However, I accept that certain controls are needed and that when they come before the House they will meet with the approval of the Deputies.
I should like the Members to tell me how long they would like to spend on this question because six Deputies have indicated that they would like to ask supplementaries. There are 15 balloted questions on today's Order Paper and, although I can insist, I should prefer to appeal for co-operation in carrying out the job which I was elected to do. Deputies will have to make up their minds whether they want to spend a whole day on this question or if they would prefer to give it reasonable treatment and go on to the next question.
(Limerick West): The Minister of State should curtail his replies. In view of the fact that the Land Commission will be abolished by legislation, will the land authority which will replace them have statutory functions?
If the Deputy thought I was volunteering too much information before this——
It would take a Second Stage speech on a Bill which has not yet seen the light of day to answer that question.
I am looking at a number of alternatives and it would be premature to give precise details of what I intend to do.
(Limerick West): In other words, the Minister has not made up his mind.