§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction expressed by representative bodies in county Clare at the reductions of 5 pet cent, in West Clare and 10 per cent. in East Clare given by the Sub-Commission at the last hearing of fair-rent applications; will he state what previous knowledge or experience had this gentleman who inspected these lands of Clare farming or the nature of Clare land and the climatic conditions of that county; and whether, in view of these expressions of want of confidence in the Lay Sub-Commissioner, he will represent to the Land Commission the advisability of transferring the services of this gentleman to a part of the country with which he has had some previous acquaintance.
§ MR. ATKINSONRepresentations have been made to the effect mentioned in the first part of the Question. The qualifications of Mr. Esmonde, the Lay Assistant Commissioner referred to, are set forth in Parliamentary Paper, No. 151, of the session of 1902. From his appointment in June, 1899, to March, 1901, Mr. Esmonde was employed in the counties
† See page 9331218 of Monaghan and Fermanagh; from March, 1901, to April, 1902, in the county of Cavan; from April, 1902, to September, 1904, in the counties of Cork and Kerry, and since the latter date in Clare. The Commissioners have every confidence in the ability and impartiality of Mr. Esmonde.
§ MR. KILBRIDEHad Mr. Esmonde before his appointment any practical knowledge of county Clare land.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe Parliamentary Papers give his qualifications.
§ MR. KILBRIDEI have seen them. He had no practical knowledge.