§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the latest Return disclosing the fact that 2,221 tenants and thirty-eight sub-tenants have been deprived of their tenancies during the year 1905 under Section 7 of the Land Act; and whether, in view of the fact that these persons have lost all right under the various Land Acts passed with a view to settle the Irish land question, the Government will bring in a short Bill during the present session repealing the said section.
MR. BRYCEThe numbers of tenants and sub-tenants upon whom eviction notices under Section 7 of the Land Law Act 1887 were served in the year 1905, are correctly stated in the Question. The great majority of such persons are not ultimately deprived of their tenancies, and do not lose their rights under the various Land Acts. The section quoted provides a right of redemption which may be exercised within a period of six months; and upon the exercise of such 229 power of redemption all rights are restored to the tenant. The numbers of tenants and sub-tenants actually dispossessed from their holdings under the section quoted during the year 1905, were ninety-six and five, respectively, that is, less than 5 per cent. of the number served with eviction notices. I am advised that a repeal of the section might prove to be an injury rather than a benefit to the tenants concerned, seeing that it might involve the actual eviction of tenants who, from any temporary cause, were unable to pay their rents.
§ MR. FLYNNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of those who were prominently connected with the enactment of Section 7 have since expressed their strong condemnation of it—for instance, the hon. Member for South Tyrone?
MR. BRYCEI am not aware of that, but I may say my right hon. friend the Attorney-General for Ireland thinks it very doubtful whether an amendment of the law would really benefit the tenants.