§ MR. LANIGANsaid, he would beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether Her Majesty's Government have been informed of the distress that at present prevails among the agricultural labouring class in Ireland, who are left unemployed in consequence of the unwillingness and reluctance of the Tenant Farmers in that country to employ labour or invest capital in the permanent improvement of their Farms as long as Landlords possess the power of eviction without compensation; whether there are any funds at the disposal of Government to meet such a case; and whether there is any intention of introducing such a Bill this Session as will have the effect of removing the cause of this distress?
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, he fully concurred with the hon. Gentleman in thinking that any measure for the improvement of the tenantry in Ireland would be most beneficial to the country generally. He was happy to assure him that a vast improvement in the agriculture of Ireland had recently taken place, and he hoped it would be attended with a corresponding improvement in the condition of the tenantry. He had already given notice of his intention to bring in a Bill to facilitate those improvements, and he trusted that it would prove successful in effecting the objects which it had in view.