§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether there is any clause in the Irish Land Bill by which tenants who purchased the interest of the middleman under the 24th and 35th sections of the Act of 1881 can now purchase the interest of the head landlord and have a charge or mortgage on the lands redeemed; and, if not, will he, if it can be shown to him that cases of the above kind exist, insert such a clause and give those tenants an opportunity of becoming the owners of their land?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Bill as introduced does not in any way deal with cases of tenants who had completed their purchases under the earlier Acts upon less advantageous terms than those granted to tenants under the Act of 1903. If any of these cases are dealt with, it appears to me to be fair that all of them should be, and that would open up a very wide question, which it would not be possible to consider during the present Session, having regard to the size of the Bill and the time available for its discussion.