HC Deb 05 December 1906 vol 166 cc961-2
MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Limerick, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners intend to give to grabbers a portion of the untenanted lands on the Mountshannon estate, in the county of Limerick, which has been purchased by them; and, if so, whether he is aware that this will cause dissatisfaction and endanger the peace of the county in view of the fact that there are evicted tenants in the county, who have not got back their holdings, willing to take untenanted lands at Mountshannon in addition to those to whom allotments have been made, and also in view of the fact that there are labourers in the district who require suitable allotments of these lands, and that there are uneconomic holdings bounding the estate requiring to be enlarged; and, whether, in view of these facts and in the public interest, he will take steps to see that grabbers get none of the untenanted lands there.

MR. BRYCE

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the scheme for the allotment of the untenanted land upon the estate mentioned has not yet been finally settled by them. The Commissioners will, when considering the distribution of the untenanted land, have due regard to the wants and circumstances of persons residing in the neighbourhood.

MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY

Will the evicted tenants who cannot get back their old holdings have the preference, and the grabbers be granted money compensation?

MR. BRYCE

The Commissioners will conform to the directions given by Parliament.