§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that certain grounds on the banks of the Shannon at Banagher, which for sixty years have been used by the public without objection as a public promenade, were recently closed against them by order of Mr. Dudley Fletcher, inspector and engineer of the Board of Works, and that fishermen and other boat-owners, who from time immemorial had anchored their boats there, have also been prohibited from using this bank by the same order; will he say whether, before taking this prohibitory action, Mr. Fletcher or the Board of Works had taken legal opinion as to their right to interfere with the public in the enjoyment of this ground; if so, has he any objection to give the name of the counsel consulted and the terms of the legal opinion; and, if not, will he see that this order is revoked.
§ (Answered by Mr. Runciman )I presume that the piece of land referred to is the same as that mentioned in a Question put to me by the hon. Member for Birr on the 13th instant.† That land, I understand, has never been open to the public, nor is it used by boatowners to anchor their boats. The Board of Works inform me that they have given no order relating to the land nor have they consulted counsel, as they have no doubt as to their legal rights. It may, however, be that the hon. Member has in his mind another piece of ground at Banagher belonging to the board at which owners are allowed by courtesy, though not by right, to draw up their boats, but there has been no interference with their privilege.