(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps he intends taking to ensure that the ownership and the management of our agricultural land will be in the hands of those best fitted to work it in view of the fact that the Land Commission are about to be abolished; and how the Government will achieve these aims to increase the rate of land mobility as outlined in Building on Reality 1985-1987.

I am of the view that medium and long term leasing is one of the most effective means of increasing the rate of land mobility. The promotion of leasing will continue to be a central feature of my Department's land policy.

The group purchase scheme which has been in operation since 1983 is also proving effective and I am examining partnership arrangements and phased transfers of management to see where these could prove helpful.

Other initiatives under consideration include the control of the purchase of agricultural land so that the smaller farmer and the qualified landless person will have an opportunity to compete on the open market, and the need to ensure that owners whose lands are underutilised bring them to a required level of production.

(Limerick West): The Minister has done nothing positive to promote what I have outlined in addition to land leasing and the group purchase scheme which are not new but were always part of Land Commission policy. In the absence of a positive and progressive farmer retirement scheme surely the possibility of lands being passed from people who are not using their land to landless young men is almost nil?

I do not accept the Deputy's suggestion that land leasing and the group purchase scheme were always part of the Land Commission policy.

(Limerick West): Of course they were.

It is a pity we did not have them 15 years ago and we would have a different land structure now.

Question No. 16.

(Limerick West): We cannot move away.

There are plenty of platforms these days from which to make speeches.

(Limerick West): I asked the Minister a specific question. In the absence of positive policies such as a proper retirement scheme and a proper social welfare structure would the Minister not agree that the possibility of transferring land to landless, well trained young men is practically nil because the incentive is not there?

The entire thrust of what I am doing for the past two years should suitably show——

(Limerick West): Nothing.

——a remarkable achievement along those lines.

Question No. 16, Deputy Hugh Byrne.

16.