asked the Minister for Lands the number of tenders received for the fishing rights of the Palmer portion of the Beltra Lake, Mayo, before 25th May, 1961; and if a decision has been taken on the matter.

In accordance with established practice, the sitting tenants have been given the opportunity of increasing their offer and a reply to a letter of 30th May has not yet been received from them.

May I ask Minister was a request sent to all the tenderers in the first instance?

So I understand.

How many tenders?

I have no information on that.

The question asks how many tenders?

The only information I have is the reply which I have already given. I beg the Deputy's pardon—I omitted to read the opening sentence of the reply which I shall now give in full. Three tenders were received and a decision has not yet been taken. In accordance with established practice, the sitting tenants have been given the opportunity of increasing their offer and a reply to a letter of 30th May has not yet been received from them.

In other words, the position is that a gentle hint has been given to one party to increase his tender, and it has been said: "If you go up by so much, you will get it." Is that the way business is done now in the Department?

It was done the same way in Deputy Blowick's time.

It was not.

It was.

I want to tell the Parliamentary Secretary that if there had been a single instance of that in my time, we would have heard about it long ago.

Will the Minister say whether he is answering Questions today for the Minister for Lands, because the Minister for Lands is an honorary members of the group who are the sitting tenants?

In reply to the Deputy, that has nothing to do with it.

It has a lot to do with it.

The Minister for Lands is away on official business today.

Is the Minister aware that one of the biggest tenders has been put in by the tenants who actually own the fisheries and I state "own" deliberately. What is happening now is that these tenants are being shot out.

They will not be.

Did the Parliamentary Secretary say the Minister for Lands is away on fishing business?

On official business.