HC Deb 21 February 1906 vol 152 c347
MR. JAMES O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is prepared to bring in a Bill to confer compulsory powers of purchase on the Congested Districts Board and the Estates Commissioners.

MR. BRYCE

It is anticipated that the recent decisions of the Court of Appeal in Ireland as to the powers of the Estates Commissioners in regard to the purchase of land will have the effect of facilitating their operations in this respect; and the I new Regulations issued by the Lord Lieutenant are calculated to produce a like effect. I must wait to see how the present system works under these Regulations and recent decisions before expressing any opinion on the point raised in the Question.

MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)

While the right hon. Gentleman is waiting to see how the system works, will he take note of the number of years' purchase demanded by the landlords of untenanted; lands? And will he give a Return on the point at the end of six months?

MR. BRYCE

suggested that the Question should be put some months hence.