§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, where fishermen have held a several fishery under lease for a long term of years and, where such lease has expired, still held a tenancy from year to year, and where such tenancies have even been held for over 100 years, facilities will be given such fishermen who may so desire to purchase those fisheries, under the Land 1156 Act of 1903 as if they were estates within the meaning of the Act.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe question raised by the hon. Member is governed by Section 99 of the Act of 1903, which provides that the Act shall not affect sporting rights which are not in the possession or enjoyment of the vendor at the time of the sale of the estate. The expression "sporting rights" includes fishery rights. If any question relating to fishery rights should arise in connection with the sale of an estate, the Land Commission will consider the matter in connection with the section quoted and Section 13 of the Act.
§ MR. JOYCEWhat protection have these poor fishermen against being evicted from the rights they have enjoyed so long?
§ MR. BIRRELLI can give them no better protection than the law allows.