§ MR. YOUNGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the conduct of the agents of the Garvagh estates, in county Cavan, in pressing the tenants, who are wretchedly poor, for payment of arrears and hanging gale; (2) whether he is aware of the number of writs and processes issued against the tenants for the past two years; (3) whether he is aware that in cases where decrees were granted for rent due to Lord Garvagh the agents added arrears to the decrees; and that the agents have threatened tenants that in cases where rents were fixed for a second statutory term they must be paid half yearly, and within fourteen days after becoming due, or legal proceedings would be taken without further notice; (4) and whether the Government will, under these circumstances, refuse them the protection of the police in carrying out, decrees for sums which the tenants, under such pressure, are unable to pay?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that the agents are now endeavouring to collect the arrears on this estate, and that they have in some cases refused to accept payment of a year's rent without the hanging gale. About 10 writs and processess were issued against tenants on the estate during the past two years. It does not appear that arrears were added to decrees granted at the suit of Lord Garvagh. Only two of the tenants have had rents fixed for a second statutory term, and both of these tenants have been served with notices to pay their rents half-yearly. As regards the last paragraph, the sheriff is entitled 566 to demand and to receive protection of the forces of the Crown in executing the decrees of Courts of Justice, and Government has no option in the matter.
§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Is the sheriff entitled to demand the presence of a large force of police?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe sheriff is entitled to demand the presence of any force that may be necessary.