HC Deb 14 December 1908 vol 198 cc1274-5
MR. O'DOWD

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there are on the Phibbs, Cooper, M'Clin-tock, and other estates in the neighbourhood of Riverstown, County Sligo, over 1,500 acres of waste grazing land, from which tenants were capriciously evicted some forty years ago; whether on one of these estates, Brinkley's, 800 acres of these grass farms are held by two non-residential graziers, whilst twenty-seven tenants on the same property occupy small holdings consisting mostly of reclaimed moorland; and, if so, in view of the fact that some of these landlords are negotiating with the view of selling these lands to graziers, will steps be taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire them for the purpose of relieving congestion in the district.

MR. BIRRELL

No proceedings for the sale of these lands are pending before the Estates Commissioners, and they cannot interfere in the matter.