§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that during the quarter ended 31st March, 1908, twenty tenants were actually evicted, and 290 tenants deprived of all legal interest in their holdings, under Section 7 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act of 1887, including 110 tenants in the province of Ulster; and whether, in view of the general adoption of a system of land purchase in Ireland and the large number of tenants who are annually deprived of all legal property in the holdings they cultivate, the Irish Government will take steps to repeal this section in the promised amended land legislation.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe figures quoted in the Question are correctly taken from 107 the Returns presented to Parliament. It is, however, incorrect to say that the 290 tenants who were served with notices under the section quoted have been deprived of all legal interest in their holdings, seeing that the section provides a right of redemption which may be exercised within a period of six months, and upon such exercise all rights are restored to the tenant. The Government do not propose to repeal the section referred to for the reasons of which I fully informed the hon. Member in reply to his similar Question of 6th March, 1907.
§ MR. FLYNNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that by the exercise of this Section 7—commonly called the "Eviction-made-easy" Clause—thousands of tenants have lost all legal right to their holdings
§ MR. BIRRELLMy information is that only about 5 per cent. of the persons who receive notice actually go, the great majority exercising the right of redemption within the six months' grace.
§ MR. FLYNNBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that even in cases where there is no physical eviction the tenants lose their legal status?
§ MR. BIRRELLIf they are not physically evicted they have six months' grace and in the vast majority of cases they do redeem their holdings in that time. Of course, they suffer to a certain extent.