SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE debate -
Thursday, 15 Oct 1998

Vol. 1 No. 5

State Property Bill, 1998: Committee Stage.

Section 1 agreed to.

SECTION 2.

Mr. Crawford

I move amendment No. 1.

1. In page 3, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following subsection:

"(2) In the event of any sale or lease of the National Stud Farm or any part of it pursuant to section 10 of the State Property Act, 1954, the Minister, not later than six months after completion of the said transaction, shall cause a copy of a report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, giving particulars on whether any moneys or proceeds arising from such sale or lease are being applied for the use and benefit of the National Stud Farm.".

It is self explanatory. If there is a benefit from the sale of part of this property it should go back to the National Stud which has given the industry and the country a very valuable service. It has already lost part of its land to roads. As the Minister is aware the horse industry is of vital importance to the nation. It is important that we are in a position to help the horse industry especially at a time when the livestock and pig sectors are in grave difficulty. This amendment is to ensure that any funds raised as a result of a sale would go back to the benefit of the National Stud.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food (Mr. Davern)

This issue was raised during the Second Stage debate and implicit in the amendment is that receipts from the sale of the National Stud lands would be made available for the benefit and use of the National Study farm. The Deputy will no doubt be aware that such a link between Exchequer receipts and expenditure would be a major departure from the arrangement that would apply to the provision of Exchequer funds from all sectors. Most importantly it would lead to a substantial number of claims from other sectors to be treated similarly. In addition the receipts from the sale of the National Stud farmlands and the provision of Exchequer funds to the National Stud Farm company are matters which are already subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts of this House. An additional reporting mechanism is unnecessary. Information is also freely available under the Freedom of Information Act. For those reasons we would oppose this amendment as being unnecessary.

Mr. Crawford

My party wishes this issue to be dealt with sympathetically. The Minister could find some other way of ensuring that the National Stud is reimbursed for its loss. I certainly would welcome any suggestion he might have on that area.

Mr. Davern

The National Study has already been compensated for disruption by the Kildare County Council acting for the road authority. The Deputy can be reassured the Government will continue as always - particularly as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine and I have a great interest in the horse industry - to ensure that any possible fundings will always be made available from whatever sources.

Mr. Crawford

We would like the Minister to accept the amendment but obviously the Minister has his own reasons not to.

Mr. Davern

It would set a precedent for other areas.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Sections 2 and 3 agreed to.

Title agreed to.