§ MR. DOOGAN (Tyrone, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that a number of tenants residing in Altmore, County Tyrone, derive no benefits from the Land Acts because their landlord had granted reversionary leases of their holdings, a fact of which they were unaware till the said leases were produced in Court to bar their claim; will he cause inquiries to be made, and state how many tenants are similarly affected (by such leases throughout the country; and whether he will consider the advisability of promoting a short Bill to remedy this state of things.
(Answer.) By Section 21 of The Land Law Act, 1881, a statutory tenancy does not arise in the case of a reversionary lease made bona fide before the passing of that Act. I am unable to say how many tenants are affected by such leases, and have no effective means at my disposal of ascertaining the number. I cannot undertake to introduce legislation dealing with the matter.—(Irish Office.)