HC Deb 10 March 1887 vol 311 cc1719-20
MR. FINUCANE (Limerick, E.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that the Kilmallock Board of Guardians, County Limerick, recently received notice of the intended eviction of Mr. Edmond Davoren, Elton; whether this is the Mr. Davoren, in whose interest Captain Plunkett, R.M., went to Messieurs Mahon and Guiness, land agents, Dublin, to influence them to give a fair settlement to their tenant; whether they consented to take £93 in satisfaction of all arrears; whether Mr. Davoren consented; whether the agents insisted on Mr. Davoren signing an agreement depriving him of any right to his improvements; whether the improvements are worth over £1,000; and, whether, if the eviction should take place, and the landlord refuse to pay Mr. Davoren the difference between his indebtedness, i.e., £90 and £1,000, the value of his improvements, the Government intend to aid the landlord in his threatened eviction?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)

(who replied) said: The Kilmallock Board of Guardians has received notice of the intended eviction of Edmond Davoren. I am unable to give any information as to the matters inquired into in the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth paragraphs of the Question; and as to the tenant's improvements, he is entitled under the existing law to obtain full compensation from the landlord for them, no matter what their value may be, and whether he is evicted for non-payment of rent or not.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he has communicated with Captain Plunkett in reference to this matter?

MR. HOLMES

No, Sir; because I am aware that Captain Plunkett stated he did not know who the person was.

MR. FINUCANE

Is it a fact that Mr. Davoren is entitled to compensation for his improvements, seeing that the interest in his farm was sold by the landlord six months ago in Limerick?

MR. HOLMES

Any tenant who makes improvements, whether he be evicted for non-payment of rent or not, is under the law entitled to compensation for those improvements. Of course, if he allows the interest in his farm to be transferred that is another matter.