§ Mr. SHEEHANhad the following question down: To ask the Chief Secretary for 481 Ireland whether he can state the area of the grazing and untenanted lands on the Massy estate, in the neighbourhood of Macroom, county Cork; whether any steps have been recently taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire these for the purposes of distribution; is he aware that an arrangement was entered into between representatives of the tenants, including the hon. Member for Mid Cork, and legal agents acting for the owners, at a special sitting of the Estates Commissioners, held in their board room, Dublin, in November, 1906, that this untenanted land should be specially handed over to the Commissioners for distribution amongst the evicted tenants, labourers, and small holders; and that the workers in the town of Macroom were to be particularly provided for in this respect; was a shorthand note of the proceedings connected with this arrangement taken by an official of the Commissioners; does any minute of the arrangement referred to now exist; in what position do negotiations for the purchase of the Massy estate by the tenants at present stand; and when the untenanted and grazing lands come into the hands of the Commissioners will it be seen to that they are utilised in full accordance with the terms of the arrangement referred to?
§ Mr. SHEEHANThe Chief Secretary has informed me that he has not received the information, but he hopes to publish the answer in the Votes.
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)Yes, that is so.
§ Mr. SHEEHANI see no reason why the Chief Secretary should not answer the question across the floor of the House now. I suppose this is another example of glaring injustice to a certain section of this House, of which we have had recent examples, and of which more will be heard!
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not asking a question; he is making a statement.