§ 55. Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister, seeing that the Government recognise the financial difficulties of the agricultural community in Ireland arising from the prevention of the sale of stock on account of cattle disease and consequent restrictions, and the general inability to meet current liabilities for land until freedom of sale has been re-established, whether any method has been devised of allowing that time for payment; and, if not, whether he will arrange to have some portion of next Friday allocated for discussion of this subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhile the agricultural community in Ireland has suffered severely by the cattle disease, there is no evidence of any general inability to meet land purchase liabilities. There is no power to allow time for payment for these charges, which, if unpaid, 1499 fall automatically on the county rates, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a discussion on the subject.