HC Deb 26 June 1906 vol 159 cc784-5
MR. HALPIN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will make inquiries from the Estates Commissioners why their inspector, who went to West Clare and to East Clare to inspect evicted tenants' ‡ See Col. 754. holdings, has not yet inspected several of these holdings; whether he will give instructions to the Estates Commissioners to have their inspectors visit every evicted farm in Clare as soon as possible; and whether, in view of the fact that some of those people have had to go into the towns and villages to earn what will support their families, he will request the Estates Commissioners to apply to honorary secretaries of the local branches of the United Irish League to give them information in reference to the evictions, especially of those who have not yet applied to them for reinstatement.

* MR. BRYCE

The Estates Commissioners inform mo that their inspector in Clare is inquiring into the applications of evicted tenants in that county as rapidly as possible. Over 200 applications have been received, and inquiries into all these cases must obviously take time. The Commissioners tell me that they will duly consider any useful information regarding evicted tenants which may reach them from any source. I infer that they do not propose to make inquiries into the cases of evicted tenants from whom no application is received.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the settlement of this question is really bound up with the public peace in Ireland?

* MR. BRYCE

Yes, and I am sure the Estates Commissioners fully appreciate the importance of dealing with these cases as soon as possible.