§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will take steps to amend the present sanitary laws in Ireland by giving the local sanitary authorities power to enter into possession of unsanitary dwellings or unsanitary areas, and cause such areas or dwellings to be put into a proper sanitary condition, and to retain such property in their possession until the receipts from such property shall have paid all the expenses incurred by such local authorities in the carrying out of the necessary sanitary improvements.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, confers full powers on local authorities to take proceedings with the object of having in-sanitary dwellings put into proper condition, and, in the event of default, to secure the demolition of the insanitary buildings. The local authorities have no power to enter into possession of such dwellings or areas and retain the receipts of the property in order to pay for repairs, and it is not proposed to undertake legislation with that end.
§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYHave the local authority no power to enter into possession of insanitary dwellings?
§ MR. BIRRELLI do not think they have.