asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state the date upon which the Kelp Advisory Committee was set up by his Department; the names of the members of the Committee; the work which it was intended they should perform; the number of meetings which the Committee held; the total expense incurred in connection with the work of the Committee; and the date upon which the Committee was dissolved.

The Kelp Advisory Committee was set up on the 17th October, 1929. The members are: A. O Brolchain (Chairman); Deputies Doherty, Hennigan, Hogan (Clare) and Mongan; Major E. Sherlock, Doctor Hugh Ryan, Mr. Joseph McBride and Mr. P.J. Sweeney. The Committee was appointed to advise on the arrangements being made for the development of the industry; it held three meetings; the total expense incurred was £1 12s. 0d.; the Committee has not yet been dissolved.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether these members were selected owing to their special knowledge of, or the interest which they take in, the people engaged in the kelp industry?

I assume that they were appointed because of their special knowledge of the conditions relating to the kelp industry.

It would not be correct, then, to say that any one of them or any body of them took no interest in the kelpers.

I am quite certain that everyone of them takes an interest in the kelpers.

Will you pass that on to the Minister for Fisheries to compare with his recent speech in Quilty, Co. Clare?

Did it hurt you?