§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in how many counties, outside the eight which have been declared by proclamation to be in a state of disturbance, has cattle-driving been resorted to during the past eighteen months.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Outside the eight counties referred to, cattle-drives have taken place within the last eighteen months in fourteen counties, namely, Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Queen's County, Tipperary, Tyrone, and Waterford.
§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many persons are at the present time under a rule of bail for cattle-driving, how many of these persons are owners and occupiers of agricultural land, and in how many cases have the recognisances been estreated.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) In the two years ended 30th September last 1,029 persons were bound to the peace in connection with cattle-driving, and the recognisances of four persons who were detected driving cattle on a second occasion were estreated. It would be impossible, without imposing undue labour on the police authorities who are already fully occupied, to ascertain how many of these persons are still under a rule of bail or how many are owners and occupiers of agricultural land.