asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the recent purchase of certain lands adjacent to the property of the Royal Dublin Society by a quasi-State body; and whether, in view of the important functions of that society in connection with the agricultural and bloodstock industries and Irish industrial development and the desirability of land being available for the expansion of the work of the society, he will endeavour to secure that the benefit of the pending contract for the purchase of the lands will be passed to the Royal Dublin Society if they so wish.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - R.D.S. and Purchase of Lands.
I have no information as regards the details of this transaction. I do not know what steps the Deputy thinks I could appropriately take, but it appears to me that to intervene in the matter as suggested would be outside my functions.
Is it correct for the Minister to say that he has no information as to the fact that a company or a subsidiary of a company that was set up and assisted by public moneys has purchased the lands adjoining the Royal Dublin Society, that the Royal Dublin Society endeavoured to secure those lands, that the securing of those lands by the Royal Dublin Society would be in the public interest?The Minister for Agriculture or the Minister for Finance, who is responsible for advancing large quantities of public money to this body, ought to intervene with a view to securing that the benefit of the pending contract, in the interests of the bloodstock industry, the agricultural industry and general industrial development, should be transferred to the Royal Dublin Society rather than be permitted to be developed in the manner in which it is rumoured it is about to be developed.
Mr. Walsh
Is the Deputy aware that this was a public auction and is it his suggestion that we should have restriction on the sale of land?
Certainly not but, in the public interest, I suggest to the Minister for Agriculture, having regard to the important function fulfilled by the Royal Dublin Society in the life of this country, particularly agricultural, live-stock and general industrial development, that he ought to endeavour in the public interest to persuade this company that bought the property by public auction to give the benefit of that contract to the Royal Dublin Society. There is no question of compulsion. It is a question of putting it up to them that, in the public interest and having regard to the fact that there is very great public disturbance by reason of the fact that the Royal Dublin Society were not able to get this property, they ought to give the benefit of that contract to the society.
Mr. Walsh
I have no function in the matter whatsoever, a Cheann Comhairle, and that question should be addressed to the proper Minister.
Has not the Minister a function in connection with agricultural development?
Mr. Walsh
No function in the sale of land.
No function in agricultural development—is the House to understand that? Surely a matter of this kind, which affects agricultural development, is a matter in which the Minister should use his good offices—that is the length to which this question goes—with a view to securing now that the benefit of the pending contract will be passed over to the Royal Dublin Society in the public interest. Surely the Minister, representing agricultural interests and as a public figure, should at least endeavour to see if anything can be done to bring about that.