HC Deb 13 March 1906 vol 153 cc1107-8
MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Kildare, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland bought a sire horse named Balsamo in England and sold him to an Irish farmer purchaser for sire purposes; if so, what price did the Department pay for the horse and for what amount was he sold; was there a profit made on the transaction; and, if so, will he state whether it was contemplated, when the Department was created, that it should make a profit out of any business or matter connected with its functions in aid of agricultural development; and will he inquire whether any profits are made by the Department; and, if so, will he take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.

The fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. It is not considered desirable to publish particulars of the prices paid and received by the Department in individual cases. I may, however, state that the Department have made no profit upon transactions in this branch of their work taken as a whole.

MR. JOHN O'CONNOR

Have they made a profit out of this transaction?

MR. BRYCE

If the hon. Member will allow me, I will speak to him privately.

MR. JOHN O'CONNOR

Is it the policy of the Department to make profits on these transactions?

MR. BRYCE

I think the Department is justified, if it makes a loss on one transaction, in recouping it on another.