§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board have been written to by tenants on the Kenmare Estate, county Kerry, intimating that the landlord had expressed his readiness to sell his estate, and asking them to open up negotiations for the purchase of same; and, if so, will he say whether it has been and will continue to be the practice of the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board not to take any steps in such circumstances until the landlord communicates directly with them.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover)The Congested Districts Board has received no communication from the tenants. The Estates Commissioners have, and the 962 tenants were informed that no application for sale had been received from the owner. I do not know what the hon. Member means by "any steps." Neither the Board nor the Commissioners can take any effective administrative steps in respect of purchase until an owner has, at any rate, commenced overtures for sale.
§ MR. MURPHYI may inform the right hon. Gentleman that in this case the landlord is willing to sell and the tenants are willing to buy. I want to know if either of these Boards will now move in the matter.
§ MR. WYNDHAMsaid it was for the parties to take the first step.