Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The Minister has a great opportunity. She will play a hands-on role in the areas of food quality, the development of the food industry and consumer interests. I served in the Dáil with her father and her uncle, both of whom were extremely competent Deputies. I also congratulate Deputies Browne and Brendan Smith, the Ministers of State at the Department, to whom I have no doubt the Minister will delegate authority on the basis of their experience. I was a Minister of State myself when Deputy Coughlan was a backbencher and we worked very well together. I also congratulate Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

I spoke on the original Bill to deal with the dissolution of the Land Commission in 1992. I have been consulting the Official Report of the debate and note that quite a number of Members spoke on the issue. I was opposed to the abolition of the Land Commission as it provided certain controls on the purchase and distribution of land and played a very important role in the history of the State. Had we retained the Land Commission and all its powers, we could have restricted under European law the sale of land to non-nationals even if they were EU citizens. We gave away a great deal of power where some other countries would not have done the same. When I was elected to the Dáil in 1977, land distribution was one of the major issues of the day. I am sure the same was true when the Minister was first elected. The question was who would get a bit of land from the Land Commission. I was on many deputations to Merrion Street, as I am sure was the Cathaoirleach, to discuss the merits and benefits of applications for particular parcels of land with the land commissioners. It was very valuable work.

The Bill before us is timely, worthwhile and generous. It is important that all farmers with land are informed of its benefits as quickly as possible although I do not think publication in the media will work. The writing-off of all annuities of €200 per annum or less is a very generous gesture by the Department. It will benefit quite a number of farmers to the tune of €4 million. Farmers should also be informed about the opportunity to buy out land purchase annuities as the Minister has declared a six-month limit to resolve this matter. I appeal to all farmers who can benefit to do so on the basis of the 25% discount.

While the Minister may have come up with the best possible approach, she will be required to sell this offer to farmers. She must devise a method to get the message across to the relevant organisations, particularly the IFA and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, to enable them to sell the plan to their members. I presume the Minister has a full list in her Department of all those who have land annuities and can arrange to contact them individually to inform them of the offer. The power will remain whereby land will be vested by the Department and to obtain a transfer will require the permission of the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

I ask the Minister to circulate to Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas the number of trustees in the country and their particulars. There are difficulties in certain areas with the way in which trustees conduct their business. They have become autonomous-type bodies without any recourse to the Minister or the Department. In some areas, the trusteeship has been increased beyond the number of trustees originally approved. Land is a valuable asset for the State. Oireachtas Members should be aware of who the trustees are in their constituencies and where they are located. A case is being taken in Gorey regarding a trusteeship which caused some difficulty for the Department in terms of legal costs. Identification of the trustees would be a useful exercise.

I also ask that the Minister make available information regarding land in the ownership of the Land Commission. I was previously able to obtain such information by way of a parliamentary question. I believe there are lands which have not yet been distributed by the Department. I would like to know the location of such lands and when they will be distributed. I am working from memory of the details provided to me regarding the location of properties throughout the country. It would be worthwhile knowing if such lands are in the ownership of the Department.

I agree with Senator Kitt's comments regarding joint ownership and commonages which is a complicated area. The Minister has available to her top officials who are former members of the Land Commission and they are aware of the position. Perhaps when tidying up this legislation, the Minister will consider that issue. I believe she may have to introduce legislation on the regulation of trustees and trusteeships for different properties around the country. I do not believe anybody in the House realises the amount of control trustees have over Irish property and that they are not answerable to Deputies, Senators or, in many cases, the Minister. I hope the Minister can resolve this issue which has a major effect on particular areas.

A trusteeship exists in Castlerea, County Roscommon. While I do not wish to make any assertions about that trusteeship, we need more transparency in terms of the activities of trusteeships which appear to be adopting an autonomous approach. The Minister has overall control in this area. Perhaps her officials, whom I welcome to the House, will note the situation and will, in due course, bring issues relating to trusteeships to her attention. The Minister may then, in her wisdom, decide to bring forward legislation regarding the powers and control of trusteeships dealt with in part by this Bill.

I again express my delight with the Minister's appointment and wish her every success, health and happiness in her new role. She is a proud representative of County Donegal. I know she will be as successful a Minister for Agriculture and Food as she was Minister for Social and Family Affairs.