§ MR. SHEEHY (Meath, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, under the Land Act of 1903, the mineral rights of purchased estates are vested in the Estates Commissioners; and whether the Estates Commissioners have power to work, sell, or lease, such mineral rights in any farm; and, if not, will he introduce a short Bill giving power to the Commissioners to sell or lease these rights, with a view to the development of such mines as may be found to exist in Ireland.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.Pursuant to Section 13 (3) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, the rights to minerals in respect to lands purchased by the Land Commission must be reserved to the Land Commission, but such rights cannot be disposed of by the Commission until the manner of disposal is provided for by Parliament. The question of legislation on the subject is under consideration.