§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the resolution recently passed by the Irish Butter Ex-porters' Association, protesting against the proposed subsidy to be given by the Irish Department of Agriculture to the
† See (4) Debates, clvii., 488.958 Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, on the ground that State money should not be applied in subsidising a trading organisation which is in direct competition with private traders; whether he is aware that protests on similar grounds have been made by the leading Irish bacon curers and exporters; and whether, in view of those protests on behalf of two Irish industries, steps will be taken to restrain the Department from this use of public moneys.
MR. BRYCEMy attention has been called to the resolution referred to, and to the objections which have been taken in other quarters to the action of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in applying public moneys for the teaching of agricultural co-operation through the agency of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. I have already stated that the opinion of the law officers is being taken upon the legality of this action.