asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state in the light of the recent raffle of the estate in County Westmeath the attitude of his Department and the Land Commission to the vesting in non-nationals of this type of property in view of section 45 of the Land Act, 1965, which prohibits transfers of such property to unqualified persons without the consent of the Land Commission, who as non-nationals are not qualified until they have been resident in the State for seven years; and the attitude of the Land Commission in the event of the further spread of these raffles.

An application pursuant to section 45, Land Act, 1945, for the consent of the Land Commission to the vesting of the holding in question in a new owner or owners has not been received.

Applications by non-qualified persons for consent to the vesting of lands won in a raffle would be considered by the Land Commission on the same basis as applications in respect of land transferred in the ordinary way.

The question of the control of the type of raffle referred to by the Deputy would appear to be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice.

How many more farms will be disposed of in this way?

That is up to the owners. Ask the Minister for Justice.

It is obvious that the Forum is on today.

What has that to do with agriculture?

Does the Minister agree that a large tract of land has recently been disposed of by raffle? He also said that it is a matter for the Minister for Justice. Would he further agree that, due to the fact that the land has been disposed of by raffle, he had a duty to ensure that, if possible, small farmers should be located on this property instead of having it raffled? It is now intended to raffle this land again and surely it is time for action by the Minister and his Department, in co-operation with the Minister for Justice, to ensure that this situation will not continue?

That situation may not arise. The people concerned are non-nationals and they have to prove their right of establishment, that is, their intention to live here and to work the land.

7.