asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when the 1970 annual report of the National Stud will be published; and the usual time lag between the publication of the report and the year to which it refers.
42.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Stud.
41.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has been notified of a proposal to hold the 25th annual general meeting of the Irish National Stud Company Limited; and, if so, when.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
The company has not notified me of the date of its next annual general meeting nor is it required to do so. I understand that the meeting will be held in mid-August. The meeting will consider the company's report and accounts which will be presented as soon as may be thereafter to each House of the Oireachtas.
The dates of presentation in recent years have been as follows: 1969, 24th August, 1970; 1968, 11th July, 1969; 1967, 6th July, 1968; 1966, 12th October, 1967; 1965, 4th August, 1966.
Is the Minister aware that the National Stud is required, under section 26 of the 1945 National Stud Act, to supply its annual report to the Minister within 90 days of the end of the accounting year? The accounting year ended in December, 1970 and, therefore, the National Stud is in breach of its statutory duty in not having supplied to the Minister and, through him, to this House, its report and balance sheet by 31st March.
That is technically true.
Has the Minister power to ensure that bodies under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries comply with the requirements of the Act which brought them into existence?
I am not au fait with this matter but I think the statutory period allowed to them is rather short and possibly an amendment of that aspect of the legislation might be desirable.
Would the Minister not agree that it makes a mockery of this House if legislation is flouted by bodies whom one would expect would show the greatest respect for legislation?
I would agree if the legislation were deliberately flouted.
It is clear that it is being deliberately flouted——
I do not accept that.
Have they complied with this requirement in previous years?
I gave the figures back to 1966.
Have they complied with the requirement in the last four years?
It appears they have not.
If this is so, did the Department not consider having an investigation before now?
This is the first time it came to my notice.
Has the Minister authority to extend the period?
I do not think so —not without amendment of the law.