MR. FIXCCAXE (Limerick, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that. Daniel Noonan, Tomaline Doon, County Limerick, who was evicted on 27th February, 1893, a short time before eviction, served an originating notice to get a fair rent fixed, which notice was dismissed on purely technical grounds—namely, that the father on the marriage of his son, which took place over 20 years ago, reserved to himself a few acres of the farm without the written consent of the landlord, though with his knowledge; also that the tenant before his eviction offered to pay a rent as well as all arrears fixed by arbitration, and if both offers were rejected by his landlady: whether he is aware that the rent of the farm was £66, and the valuation £34 yearly, and that two experienced valuators swore before the Land Court that a fair rent would be about £28 yearly; also, that the tenant, in the presence of his late parish priest, the Rev. Canon O'Donnell, offered one year's rent, there being then only one and a half year's rent due, and a future rent of £40 yearly; whether he is also aware that the tenant offered to leave the fixing of the rent to Mr. Hobson, Sub-Sheriff, County Limerick, who is a relative to the landlady, and that on the day of the eviction the tenant's father, who is over 90 years of age, was evicted in a snowstorm; and if the landlady should still refuse those terms, will police protection, at considerable expense to the State, be continued to the emergency man in charge of the evicted farm?
MR. J. MORLEYIn September, 1887, Daniel and Jeremiah Noonan served an originating notice as lessees to fix a fair rent. In March, 1889, the case came before a Sub-Commission, and, with the consent of the solicitor for the tenant, the name of Daniel Noonan was struck out and the name of Jeremiah Noonan retained as tenant, it appearing that the holding was held under a lease for a term of 31 years and a 650 life, made to the said Jeremiah Noonan. On the further hearing of the case the application to fix a, fair rent was dismissed by the Sub-Commission on the ground that Jeremiah Noonan was not in bonâ fide occupation of the entire holding. I understand that he had, some years previously, assigned his farm, except a, few acres which he reserved for himself, To his son Daniel, and that it is alleged this was done with the knowledge and consent of the then agent of the landlady, Mrs. Gladstone. Whether the allegation is based on fact I cannot say. None of the members of the Sub-Commission are now, I am told, in the employment of the Land Commission, and no appeal appears to have been taken against this order of the Sub-Commission. The various other statements in the question are, I understand, on the whole correct; and with regard to the concluding paragraph, it will be the duty of the police, which they cannot avoid, to afford protection to the caretakers so long as may be deemed necessary irrespective of any action on the part of the landlady.