§ Mr. L. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the total amount of costs incurred to the present time by futile attempts to acquire land compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act; names and salaries of the Law Officers by whose advice those attempts have been guided; and whether they are the same persons whose regulations were condemned by the Estates Commissioners on 17th January, 1906?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Cherry)I am not in a position to state the total amount of these costs, but I have reason to believe that they have been considerable. The Estates Commissioners employ their own counsel in such matters, and the Law Officers are not consulted. As the hon. Member has already been informed, the regulations referred to in the concluding portion of the question were settled by the Law Officers of the late Government.
§ Mr. GINNELLAre the same Law Officers in office to-day?
§ Mr. CHERRYNO, but they may be again at some future time.
§ Mr. FLYNNWhen these cases are tried, would the Estates Commissioners consider the advisability of giving the fullest notice to the persons interested, in order that the Estates Commissioners or the Law Officers may have the assistance of those deeply interested in the matter?
§ Mr. CHERRYSo far as I am aware the Estates Commissioners give full notice. They publish it in the newspapers. They are bound to do so by Act of Parliament. There are several gentlemen who have been counsel for the Commissioners in recent cases—Mr. Ronan, Mr. Jellett, and a number of others
§ Mr. J. MacVEAGHIs it a fact that these notices are only published in the "Dublin Gazette," which nobody sees?
§ Mr. CHERRYI have seen it in other papers.
§ Mr. J. MacVEAGHIs it published in the local papers?
§ Mr. CHERRYI do not know as to the local papers.
§ Mr. LARDNERThey are never put in the local papers.