§ 30. Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Royal Irish Constabulary rented a house in Ballybunion from Mrs. Hawney, which was converted into a police barracks; whether he is aware that Mrs. Hawney paid over £400 for this house, and also spent up to £300 in alterations and substantial improvements; whether he can say if the constabulary authorities paid Mrs. Hawney her rent regularly up to about two years ago, and that Mrs. Hawney's interests were never evicted; and if he will say why the constabulary authorities are now paying the rent of the police barracks to the Scottish Provident Institute, thereby giving financial aid to an insurance company who are endeavouring to increase the ground rent by over 200 per cent?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Royal Irish Constabulary rented a house in Ballybunion from Mrs. Hawney, which she converted into a police barrack. Mrs. Hawney paid £400 for the barrack and premises held by two other tenants, and she is believed to have spent about £215 in alterations and improvements. The constabulary paid the rent regularly to Mrs. Hawney until early in 1914, but it is now being paid to the Scottish Provident Institute owing to 1467 legal advice that they are entitled to receive it A nominal increase in the rent may be paid if the landlords carry out some extensive repairs that have been asked for.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mrs. Hawney's interest has never been evicted from those premises by the sheriff? Why are the constabulary assisting in the persecution of a woman with six children, and in confiscating her property?
§ Mr. DUKEAn eviction is not necessary to entitle a mortgagee to exercise his rights. A tenant who goes on paying a mortgagor when he has notice from the mortgagee would have to pay twice.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the ground lease of those premises was at £2 4s. 3d., and that on the expiration of that building lease the Scottish Provident Institute comes in and demands £39 a year? Is the Chief Secretary going to allow the constabulary authorities to assist the Scottish Provident Institute to confiscate like this?