§ MR. LUNDON (Limerick, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that negotiations for sale and purchase as between landlord and tenants have been for some time in progress on the Cooper estate, around Knocklong, in the county Limerick; is he aware that John McGrath and Thomas Barry have been evicted tenants on that estate for more than twenty years; has an inspector from the Estates Commissioners visited McGrath and Barry, and, if so, with what result; and will he ask the Estates Commissioners to put themselves in communication with 665 Messrs. Sanders, of Charleville, and Mr. Halte, with a view to the immediate reinstatement of Messrs. McGrath and Barry through those agents.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings for the sale of the estate referred to in the Question have been instituted before them. The Commissioners, however, have inquired into the cases of John McGrath and Thomas Barry, who were evicted from the Cooper estate about twenty years ago, and the holdings have been inspected. The Commissioners have recently furnished to the owner a preliminary estimate of the amounts they are prepared to advance for the purchase of these holdings; but they have not yet received a reply.