DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that the agent of the Marquess of Sligo has published 950 notices that various townlands on his lordship's estate have been poisoned, with the result that dogs and poultry straying on the land are subject to destruction, and that the poison is conveyed by birds to the adjoining lands; is such action legal; and could he state in what way the owners of poisoned animals can recover compensation?
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON, Londonderry, N.)I understand that notices signed by Lord Sligo's agent have been posted up in conspicuous places in the locality referred to intimating that it is intended to lay down poison for the destruction of foxes and other vermin. Neither Lord Sligo nor his agent has in this done anything for which they can be called to account or interfered with by the Executive Government. Though the answer to this Question is obvious, I must respectfully decline to express any opinion on the respective rights of the owners of land and the owners of dogs or poultry which may trespass upon these lands under the circumstances mentioned in the question.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork C., N.)Are foxes correctly described as "vermin"?
§ MR. ATKINSONYes, Sir.