§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the facts within the knowledge of the Estates Commissioners that the farm on Colonel Smythe's estate, Collinstown, Westmeath, from which Mrs. Riggs was evicted, is still vacant and on the landlord's hands, stands isolated some miles distant from the owner's demesne, has no connection with that demesne, and is not used or caable of being used as a home farm; that Mrs. Riggs' son, in exile for want of a home, desires to return to the evicted farm; and that Mrs. Riggs, in her duty to herself and her children, will not, after twenty-five years in a Land League hut, surrender her claim to restoration under the compulsory provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act of 1907, will he ascertain definitely when the Commissioners purpose to restore this evicted family.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to his Question on this subject on 15th May last. On 1st instant 67 the hon. Member was, I understand, informed by the Estates Commissioners that, as Mrs. Riggs has declined to accept the parcel of land offered to her, they have struck her name off their list, and will take no further action in her case.