HC Deb 28 October 1908 vol 195 c292
MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN (Cork)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has seen a report of the county meeting at Monaghan, convened by the Nationalist chairman of the county council, presided over by the Lord-Lieutenant of that county, and addressed by the principal representative men of Monaghan, Nationalist and Unionist, landowners and tenants, at which, on the proposal of a canon of the Protestant church, seconded by a Catholic parish priest, an advisory committee was appointed to aid in the solution of outstanding difficulties on the land question; and whether he will avail himself of offers of friendly co-operation of that sort from all sides to try whether an amending Land Bill can be still passed through Parliament this session by fairly general agreement.

MR. BIRRELL

I have seen a Report of the meeting to which the hon. Member refers. I shall be only too glad to avail myself of friendly co-operation from all sides, with the object of securing the earliest passage through Parliament of amending land legislation.

MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to take some practical steps to utilise the union of classes which both he and his predecessor have insisted is absolutely required for the settlement of the land question?

MR. BIRRELL

repeated that he would gladly welcome frendly co-operation from all sides.