§ MR. FINDLATERasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If he is aware that the Board of Trinity College, who have from time immemorial been in the habit of making forty years' leases of building lots in Westland Row and other parts of the city of Dublin, and of renewing such leases to their tenants upon certain terms, have now intimated that they will not renew them upon any terms; and, if so, whether, having regard to the hardship inflicted upon subtenants who hold by leases containing toties quoties covenants for renewal, which they took upon the faith of the immemorial practice before referred to, it is the intention of the Government to interfere by legislation on the subject?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)The Board of Trinity College has, I believe, intimated its intention of ceasing to renew leases of buildings after their expiration. The phrase "time immemorial" is hardly applicable, as the original leases never existed in the period between 1810 and 1825. The original terms were 40 years, and on the expiration of the present renewed terms, the tenants who are middlemen will have held at the old rents for periods of 88 to 90 years. I need hardly inform my hon. Friend that it is not the intention of the Government to interfere in the matter. No hardship appears to have been complained of by the under-lessees as far as I am aware.