§ MR. FINUCANE (Limerick, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with regard to the case of Mr. Patrick Brosnihan, Dunvullen, Cahercoulish, County Limerick, who was evicted about two years ago by his landlady, Mrs. Gabbett, for half a-year's rent, Whether he is aware that Mr. Brosnihan held under a lease at £3 per acre, that his landlady refused him any abatement as well as permission to go into the Laud Court to get a fair rent fixed; and, whether two policemen have been protecting the Emergency men in care of the farm for the past two years at a cost of over £300 to the ratepayers; and, if so, will the Government, if Mr. Brosnihan should now pay all arrears without any abatement, on condition of being restored to his farm at a rent fixed either by the Land Court or arbitration, withdraw police protection from the Emergency men in care of the farm?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I am informed that Brosnihan was evicted in May, 1886, for non-payment of one year's rent. He held under lease at £3 an acre. It is stated that he demanded an abatement of 30 per cent; but that owing to the language he used when making the demand his landlady declined to treat with him. Since the eviction two constables have been employed protecting the caretakers on the farm. There has, however, been no extra 203 charge on the ratepayers of the locality for these men. The Government cannot undertake to adopt the course suggested in the concluding portion of the Question.