asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been called to the fact that in the County of Louth, and generally in the Saorstát, landlords are carrying out sales of land with a view to evading some of the provisions of the Land Act, 1923; and whether the new tenancies created by these sales will be sanctioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, to the detriment of evicted tenants and uneconomic holders, whose greater claims have been admitted by the Government.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LAND SALES.
PEADAR O hAODHA
The sale of land by landowners will not in any way prejudice the operations of the Land Act, 1923. There is no power to interfere with any owner's right to sell his land, but the sale of land or the creation of freeholds or tenancies now does not in any way interfere with or modify the right of the Land Commission under the Land Act, 1923, to acquire land compulsorily for the purposes of the Act where it is required. The fact that "A" has sold his land within the last year, and that "B,""C," and "D" are now the legal owners, makes no difference whatever to the position. If the Land Commission require the land they can acquire it compulsorily from "B,""C," and "D" as readily as they acquire it from "A." The transfer of ownership alters in no way the provisions of the Act either as to acquisition or price.
Under the Land Act of 1923 the Land Commission may acquire land compulsorily not only from a landlord who holds in fee, but also from a tenant or a tenant purchaser. Any attempt to prevent the sale of land, pending the operations of the Land Act, would not increase in any way the powers of the Land Commission, but would merely have the effect of decreasing the value of all the land of the country, and farmers, large and small, since they own far the greatest area, would be the principal sufferers by such a policy.
Arising out of that question, might I ask the Minister if all the facts he has given in his reply are set out in the Land Act of 1923, and, if so, what is the necessity for asking the Dáil to waste time over this matter?
I wonder could the Minister state if the lands of Kilsaran have been sold within the last week or two in order to evade the provisions of the Act?
I cannot say.
Why not ask the Attorney-General?