asked the Minister for Lands if he will request the Land Commission to acquire for division amongst the congests and landless men in the locality the lands of Miss Vere O'Brien, containing 300 acres, at Ballyalla, Ennis, which were recently offered for sale.

asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will consider acquiring the upper and lower estate of Mr. Thomas F. White (Reference No. AR.33392/50) for division amongst the small farmers and agricultural workers in the area, as the owner of the estate resides in America.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will take together Questions Nos. 2 and 5.

The question of the particular lands to be acquired or resumed is solely a matter for the Land Commission and depends on the suitability of the lands for the Land Commission's statutory purposes and whether they come within the powers of acquisition or resumption conferred under the Land Acts.

I put down a specific question concerning a specific estate in the County of Clare and am I not entitled to get from the Minister a reply dealing with that particular estate rather than a general reply?

A reply in that case must be a general one, because of the powers which this House has conferred on the Land Commissioners. The Deputy asks me if I would "request the Land Commission to acquire". I have no authority and neither has the Deputy. This House has voted to the Land Commissioners that exclusive power. The Deputy then asks me a question like this, to go and take some of these powers back again unto myself.

Would the Minister say in what manner the Land Commissioners propose to exercise these powers in relation to this estate?

They have full and absolute discretion to acquire lands provided that the Land Acts give them power to do so. That is the situation.

How do the Land Commissioners, having those powers, propose to exercise them in relation to the estate in question?

I cannot say that. I cannot tell you what the Land Commissioners propose to do and neither can the Deputy tell what he will have for his breakfast to-morrow morning.

Can the Minister not find out what they propose to do?

The Deputy was afraid to take the powers away when he had the opportunity.

Could the Minister not have found out what the Land Commissioners' intentions were with regard to this estate?

That would be great interference.

Yes, the Minister could.

Would the Minister say why he did not do so with regard to this question?

Because the Minister was not requested to do so in the question.

What was he asked to do?

Read the question.

I have read it.

You do not seem to have read it.