§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how the tenants on the unsold portion of the Kilclooney estate hold the lands, have any of the grazers who previous to last November merely held under existent contracts been since made tenants for the purpose of selling the lands to them; whether, in view of the proposed legislation extending the powers of the Congested Districts Board, he will ask the Irish Land Commission not to force a sale until the Congested Districts Board has an opportunity of further considering the matter, and whether he will ask the Congested Districts Board to communicate with the Irish Land Commission on the subject.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI received notice of this question last night and at once communicated with the Land Commission and Congested Districts Board. But the information for which I asked only reached me since I arrived at the House, and I have had no opportunity of considering it. I shall be much obliged if the hon. Member will defer his question till Thursday. Meanwhile I will communicate with him.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDBut the sale may take place before Thursday.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI gather that no sale of the property is in progress, although offers have been made by individual tenants.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDThe fear is that the grass lands may be sold to the present tenants before the matter is fully considered.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMI will deal with that point in my communication to the hon. Member.