§ MR. BOLANDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the solicitor of the Aghatubrid estate of the late Mr. J. W. Leahy has now replied to the letter of the Estates Commissioners; and whether, in view of the fact that processes have been issued against the tenants for arrears of rent which had been agreed to be wiped out by the late owner, and that the case is fixed for hearing at Killarney on 4th April, he will cause the hearing to be postponed in the event of the solicitor to the estate not having replied to the letter of the Estates Commissioners, seeing that the tenants have fulfilled their side of the agreement, and that the production of this letter is a material fact in the case.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. I have already intimated to the hon. Member that no proceedings for sale are pending between the present owner and the Estates Commissioners. The Commissioners, therefore, have no power, nor have the Government, to interfere in any legal proceedings which may be taken by the owner for the recovery of rent.