MR, T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)I desire to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what were the special circumstances for giving the use of the Government vessel "Storm Cock" for the purpose of conveying an I armed force to Dursey Island for the eviction of one tenant from his holding; what was the amount of rent due; what has been the cost, up to date, of this armed force, and of the transport; whether any offer of settlement was made by the Congested Districts Board to the landlord of this estate before the eviction; and whether under the circumstances he will at once withdraw the armed force from the island, and also withdraw the "Storm Cock" from the service of the landlord for eviction purposes, and will he charge the landlord for the use of the vessel up to the present.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI only received notice of this Question just before the House met. The services of a Government vessel were requisitioned by the sheriff of the county in the execution of a decree of the Superior Court. The Admiralty placed the vessel at the disposal of the sheriff, as they were bound in law to do. The police will remain on 826 the island so long as they are required for the protection of the sheriff's officers. I am unable to give the information desired in the remainder of the Question at such short notice and without making local inquiry.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORI assume that the facts must have been presented to the right hon. Gentleman before he sanctioned the use of the armed forces of the Crown, and I, therefore, beg to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance—namely, "the action of the Irish Executive in furnishing a Government vessel for the conveyance of an armed force to Dursey Island for the purpose of assisting the landlord to evict one of his tenants, and the maintenance of the armed force on the island."
The pleasure of the House not having been signified, Mr.DEPUTY-SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the Motion to rise in their places, and not less than forty Members having accordingly risen,
The Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 10, until the Evening Sitting, this day.