HC Deb 22 August 1895 vol 36 cc543-5
* MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in reference to the eviction of a labourer from his allotment at Ballybar (Killarney Union), whether he is aware that the gate in question was erected by the late Rev. Father O'Connor, and under what provision or regulation of the Labourers' (Ireland) Acts the vice guardians acted in intervening in a dispute between landlord and labourer tenant?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I am informed that the gate was erected by Mr. Leahy, the owner of the land, and not by the reverend gentleman named. The land is held by the Guardians under statutory lease from Mr. Leahy, and the Guardians, in acting as they have done, were guided by legal advice.

* MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the resolutions passed by a large number of public bodies in Ireland, and the Resolution of this House excluding all except Government Bills for the remainder of the Session, he will introduce a short Bill on the lines of the 13th Clause of the Land Purchase Act, 1891, or extending and enlarging the said Clause so as to deal with the reinstatement of evicted tenants in Ireland?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I have nothing to add to the First Lord's statement on this subject on Tuesday last.

MR. JAMES DALY (Monaghan, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the undertaking of the Government to legislate on the Land Question in Ireland next Session, he will take steps to secure that no evictions shall take place in Ireland meantime?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

No, Sir; the hon. Member must know that Government have no power to do what he proposes.

MR. J. O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is a fact that the forces of the Crown were given to protect the persons engaged in evicting a number of tenants on the De Freyno estate, in the county of Roscommon, on the 8th instant; whether it has come to the knowledge of the Government that as much as three years' rent was offered by or on behalf of those tenants before the eviction was completed and refused by the landlord; and whether Lord De Freyne or his agent has applied for the protection of the forces of the Crown in carrying out further evictions on that estate; and, if so, whether, in view of promised legislation on the Land Question next Session, the Government intend to give the forces of the Crown to carry out further evictions on this estate?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

Five evictions were carried out on this property on the 9th (not 8th) instant. In the cases of three tenants, settlements have been arrived at by the payment in each case of four years' rent with costs. In the remaining two cases an offer of three years' rent, in one, and two years, in another, was refused by the agent. A small force of police was present on the occasion, and the hon. Gentleman is doubtless aware that the Executive is bound to afford protection to the Sheriff and his officers in the execution of decrees in ejectment.