§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that processes of ejectment have been served on the tenants on the O'Beirne estate, Fahy, Ballinaglera, county Leitrim, owing to their inability to pay the present rents; and whether the Estates Commissioners would stay proceedings pending their completion of the present negotiations to purchase the estate or hand it over to the Congested Districts Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have no information regarding the matter referred to in the first part of the question. The owner instituted proceedings for the sale to the Commissioners of the property referred to under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by the Irish Land Act, 1909. The Commissioners furnished the owner with their estimate of price for the lands, which he did not accept, and as the Commissioners were unable to increase their estimate they dismissed the proceedings before them. The Commissioners have no power to interfere in any proceedings which the1130W owner may take with regard to the payment of rent by the tenants on his estate.