§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that during the three months after the passing of the Irish Land Act of 1909 only 137 occupiers, representing £37,775 worth of land, have signed agreements for purchase, as compared with a rate of some 50,000 tenant purchasers a year, representing £20,000,000 worth of land per annum under the preceding Act, opportunity will be given at an early date for discussing the Motion of the hon. Member for West Cork, calling attention to the grave state of things that has arisen in Ireland owing to the virtual cessation of land purchase outside the Congested Districts?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot agree with the suggestion which seems to be implied in the hon. Member's question that the Act of last year has been detrimental to the policy of land purchase. But for the financial provisions contained in that Act a continuation of land purchase would have been impossible. Not only would the Government have been unable to make advances for future agreements on the old terms without imposing on the Irish ratepayers an obligation which was generally admitted to be impossible, but, in addition, it would, for the same reason, have been necessary to suspend the making of advances in the case of fifty millions' worth of pending agreements. The Act of 1909, so far from destroying land purchase, has, in our opinion, saved it from imminent destruction. The pending agreements can now be financed without loss to the Irish ratepayers. As regards new agreements, it is not surprising that 1315 pending the publication of the rules and notices required by the new Act, there should at first be a falling off in the rate of lodgment, but the Government have no reason to doubt that land purchase will proceed under the new conditions. In the present state of Parliamentary business the Government are not prepared at this moment to give facilities for a discussion of the question.
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENMay I point out to the right hon. Gentleman that his answer is an ex parte statement of the very question that we wish to debate, and may I ask him whether he really cannot hold out any hope that the representatives of Ireland shall have an opportunity, at all events before the Dissolution of Parliament of discussing a question which is of even more vital importance to Ireland than the Budget?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should be very sorry to prescribe now what are the topics the House can or cannot discuss before the Dissolution. I quite recognise the importance of this question, and I hope it will be discussed before long, and that we shall on both sides be able to state our views upon it.
§ Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIENBut, really, cannot the right hon. Gentleman make some practical suggestion as to when an opportune time will arrive?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo; I am afraid not.
§ Mr. SHEEHANCan he tell the House, is this decision which he has come to in this case the result of an interview with the hon. Member for Waterford (Mr. John Redmond) since the sitting of this House?
§ Mr. JOHN REDMONDPerhaps I may be allowed to say I have not had the pleasure of an interview with the Prime Minister since last year?