§ Mr. HALPINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether on the Return ordered on 27th March, 1906, the townlands of Carrowkilla and Innisdea, on the Ball estate, in the county of Clare, are represented as untenanted land; whether, as a matter of fact, these two townlands are separated by a considerable distance from the demesne lands of Cornfield and Fortfergus; and, if so, whether he can state on whose authority he represented the townlands of Carrowkilla and Innisdea as demesne lands?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of Valuation inform me that these townlands, so far as they appear in the Return in question, are entered in the valuation lists as being in the hands of the owner, and are therefore described as untenanted. The first-named townland adjoins both Cornfield and Fortfergus, and the second is separated from Cornfield by one field only. In my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for East Clare on the 4th instant I referred to a cattle-drive which took place last November on the lands of Cornfield, Fortfergus, and Innisdea, described by the police authorities as forming part of Mr. Ball's demesne. The question whether these lands are technically demesne lands within the meaning of the Land Acts is not one with which the police are concerned, nor has it anything to do with the question of police protection with: which I was dealing.