(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister not agree that there is a bit of a rush at the moment by people other than farmers to acquire land pending the introduction of the legislation referred to by him? The situation is critical at the moment. There is a real effort to anticipate the legislation and to get in before it is put into operation. Can the Minister do anything to deal with that situation?

There is something that the Minister and the Dáil can do, namely, to get the legislation through the Dáil as quickly as possible when it arrives. Deputies will appreciate that the preparation of such a Bill takes a considerable amount of time. It is not possible to dash off a Bill overnight. It must be examined by every Department and then by the Government.

It must also be examined by the Dáil. The Minister cannot expect the Opposition to do his work for him. If he is slow in bringing in a Bill he cannot expect us to pass it as soon as it is introduced.

We are at Question Time. This is not the time for argument like that.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I have no wish to argue with the Minister. Surely he appreciates the fact that a warning has been given——

The Deputy has asked that question already.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I did not get an answer.

That is not the Chair's fault.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The fact that notice has been served that legislation will be introduced has encouraged people other than farmers to gobble up all the land they can. Can the Minister do anything to deal with that situation by way of a liberal service of section 40 notices or some other procedure?

The only effective way is legislation, as the Deputy knows. He spent a considerable time in the Department of Lands with remarkably little results for his stay there.

I have called the next question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister is inclined to be argumentative about this matter. I increased the staff, a matter that had been neglected. I recruited 20 inspectors to fill vacancies that existed——

Order. I have called the next question.

Will the Minister say when he will introduce the Bill?

Before the end of the year.