asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the fact that thousands of the best of our young men are emigrating every year to seek employment thousands of miles from home, and that the development of the mineral resources of this country would absorb a large percentage of the unemployed arid, to a great extent, stem the tide of emigration in the congested districts in the South of Ireland, the Minister will state the cause of the delay in introducing a Mining Bill.

I am not aware of any prospective mineral development likely to afford substantial employment which has been impeded in any way by the lack of legislation relating to such development. It is expected that a Bill dealing with the matter will be introduced before Christmas.