§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been drawn to the fact that a number of ejectment decrees have been obtained by the Marquess of Clanricarde at the Quarter Sessions held at Gort on the 19th June against a large number of mountain tenants at Derry Brien; whether these proceedings are in order, seeing that the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board have moved to apply the compulsory Sections of the Act of 1909 to this 48W estate; whether the fact that agreements to purchase the estate have been filed debars the landlord from proceedings by ejectment; and whether the lodgment of the final offer by the Estates Commissioners to purchase is equivalent to the position created by the lodgment of agreements to purchase with the Land Commission?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed that a number of ejectment decrees were obtained at Gort Quarter Sessions on the 19th June at the suit of the Marquess of Clanricarde. The Congested Districts Board are advised that the ejectment proceedings by Lord Clanricarde are in order—notwithstanding the pending proceedings for acquisition of his estate at the instance of the Estates Commissioners and the Board. No agreements to purchase the estates have been filed or signed so far as the Board are aware. The lodgment of the final offers is not equivalent to the lodgment with the Land Commission of agreements to purchase.
§ Mr. DUFFYalso asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that legal proceedings are pending before the courts in Ireland for the compulsory acquisition of the Clanricarde estate by the Congested Districts Board; whether, in view of the proceedings now pending, the landlord is entitled to take out ejectment decrees and collect costs; and whether the landlord is entitled to execute such decrees pending the judgment of the Court of Appeal?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board are advised that the proceedings now pending for the acquisition of the Clanricarde Estate do not affect the rights of the landlord to take out and execute ejectment decrees and to collect costs.