§ MR. DELANYTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an inspector from the Estates Commission named Booth on the 28th November last, called upon Mrs. Molloy, a sub-tenant to Patrick Deegan, Garroon, Mountmellick, on the estate of the Earl of Drogheda, and, accompanied by the agent and bailiff of the estate, attempted to force Mrs. Molloy to sign an agreement and pay Deegan £5 for the privilege of being allowed to purchase; and seeing that subtenants are entitled to purchase, under the Act of 1903, will he take steps to protect Mrs. Molloy from being compelled by this official of the Land Commission into contracting unfair terms of purchase.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that their inspector did not in any way attempt to 1247 compel Mrs. Molloy, the sub-tenant, to purchase, but he did suggest that, as Patrick Deegan had paid more than £100 for the interest in the farm, it would be reasonable that he should receive something for his interest in the portion occupied by Mrs. Molloy, if she should purchase under Section 15; and he mentioned £5 as the possible redemption value of the intervening interest, and advised Mrs. Molloy to consult her solicitor before deciding what to do.