CAPTAIN CRAIGTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the distribution of land purchased by the Estates Commissioners, any Unionist or Protestant farmer's son will be accepted as a tenant for any part of such land, or will the selection of tenants be left entirely in the hands of the United Irish League; whether he is aware that in the county Cavan there are several Protestant evicted tenants who have been refused reinstatement because they would not join the United Irish League; and whether he can state, with regard to the distribution of 500 acres in the county Westmeath of a farm called Catharinestown, if the Estates Commissioners will give any portion to Protestant agriculturists.
2089 (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners do not accept or reject applicants for untenanted land because they are the sons of Unionist Protestant farmers, nor is the selection of tenants left entirely, or at all, in the hands of the United Irish League. No evicted tenants, Protestant or other, have been refused restoration because they would not join the United Irish League. No allotment will be given or refused, on the lands of Catherinestown or on any other lands, on grounds of religion or politics. The Estates Commissioners neither inquire, nor do they know, the religion or politics of any person to whom they give parcels of untenanted land.