§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether there is any price of land in Ireland beyond which a vendor getting purchase agreements signed by insolvent tenants under duress exposes himself to a criminal prosecution for attempting to obtain public money under false pretences; whether thirty years' purchase of nominal rents which have not been paid, for land of the class hitherto sold for twelve years' purchase, would constitute such a case; and whether be would have the purchase agreements in the Pollard-Urquhart estate, Westmeath, examined before completion, with a view to a prosecution?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYIt would not be possible for me to express any general opinion on a question of criminal liability in respect of land purchase agreements. The matter must depend upon the circum- 434 stances of each particular case. I am not aware of any fact indicating that there is ground for prosecution in the case referred to in the concluding part of the question. The Estates Commissioners inform me that in the case of sales upon that estate, at prices not falling within Section 1 of the Land Act, 1903, every holding has been inspected with a view to the security.