HC Deb 23 May 1881 vol 261 cc1051-2
MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that since the rejection of the Compensation for Disturbance Bill by the House of Lords, the Rev. Edward Denny Lynch, a landlord owning property in Tipperary, has evicted among other tenants a person named Thomas Slattery, from a farm at Milltown, near Tullamore, Fethard, Tipperary; whether it is a fact that the rent of the farm was sixty pounds, while the Poor Law valuation was thirty-five pounds; that the farm had been for thirty-six years in the occupation of the Slattery's; that Slattery has no other employment or means of living than that given him by his farm, and that his family are nine in number; and, whether, if these are facts, he will endeavour to have a Clause introduced into the Land Law (Ireland) Bill to prevent such evictions in the future?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the date of this eviction. This occurred on the 6th of June, 1879, before the existence of the Compensation for Disturbance Bill. I believe that the rent was £60, and the Poor Law valuation £40. It is true that Slattery had no other means of support—no employment, and that ho depended on the farm. He was admitted a caretaker on the 20th of August, 1880.

MR. T. D. SULLIVAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that, since the rejection of the Compensation for Disturbance Bill, the Rev. Edward Denny has evicted a tenant named Dennis Dooley from his holding at Milltownmore, Tullamaine, Fethard, co. Tipperary, for arrears of rent; if the rent of said tenant was £95 and the valuation of his farm £47 per annum; and, if the farm was in possession of the family of the said tenant for a period of about seventy years?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I have no doubt the land owner was the gentleman described. The name of the tenant was, I think, Dennis Loomy, not Dooley. He also was evicted in June, 1879. I believe the Question is accurate in other particulars.

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

said, the last part of his Question had not been answered.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, it is not customary to state, in answer to a Question of this kind, what steps it is intended to take with regard to a Bill before the House. I must remind the hon. Member that the Minister in charge of the Bill is the Prime Minister.