Kieran Phelan (Fianna Fail)

He is still there and always will be. From 1932 to 1948 the Fianna Fáil Government did a great job in giving land to those who needed it most, which helped to ensure the survival of our rural way of life. Irish landowners were able to purchase 13.5 million acres of land under the supervision of the Land Commission.

Times have changed dramatically since the 1930s and 1940s with regard to land ownership and it is important that the legislation governing ownership also changes. In 1999 the property of the Land Commission was transferred to the Minister for Agriculture and Food. As a result of this change in the responsibilities of the Minister, we need to make conveyancing procedures more accessible and straightforward. This is what the Bill sets out to do.

I am delighted with the number of changes laid out in the Bill, for example, section 2. Currently, approximately 4,200 farmers throughout Ireland are affected by existing land reclamation annuities. The majority of these farmers have small landholdings and the changes in the Bill will benefit them greatly. I know many small farmers who will benefit from these changes. The cost associated with the collection of annuities is extremely high while the amount brought in is small.

Life in rural Ireland has changed dramatically since the Land Commission was first established. Land ownership and how land is used have become more important and we need to change our legislation to bring it up to date with the reality of daily life. It is appropriate that the Bill which will sort out the problems relating to the Land Commission is being introduced now. I wish our new Minister and both Ministers of State, Deputies Browne and Brendan Smith, well. I am sure they will do well in the Department of Agriculture and Food.