§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state if the Estates Commissioners have power under the Land Act of 1909 to buy tenanted lands direct from the landlord, or by purchase agreements signed by the tenants and lodged with the Estates Commissioners, in the congested counties in the West of Ireland with or without the consent of the Congested Districts Board?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)If the hon. Member will refer to Section 58 of the Irish Land Act of 1909, he will, I think, have no difficulty in coining to the conclusion that with the consent of the Congested Districts Board the Estates Commissioners can buy 1512 tenanted lands in congested districts, but that without such consent they cannot buy any land in those districts unless it is required for the purposes of the Evicted Tenants Act.