§ CAPTAIN DONELANOn behalf of the hon. Member for East Clare, I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland whether he has been approached by residents in the County Clare on behalf of the fishermen of Caherrush and Quilty, who, it is alleged, are unable to pursue their calling because the occupier of the only land over which their fish can be carried to a high road refuses to allow them to cross his field unless they sell their fish to him; and whether the Department intends to take any action in the matter with a view to remedying this state of affairs.
§ MR. PLUNKETTRepresentations have been made to me to the effect stated in the first paragraph of the question, and have received my personal attention. The occupier of the land has recently been compelled to establish in a court of law his rights which were forcibly invaded by the fishermen, and under the circumstances I am afraid the Department could not at present intervene with advantage; but if the mediation of the Department were invited by both parties I would gladly do what I could to promote a settlement.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)Will the right hon. Gentleman give the name of the person by whom the land is held?
§ MR. PLUNKETTI will give it privately.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENIs it the notorious Mr. Morrony?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is an extremely irregular question, as the hon. Member must know.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI apologise. I will give notice of a question.