§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state on how many estates in Cork county proceedings are pending under the Evicted Tenants Act for the compulsory acquisition of untenanted land; when will these cases come to trial; and can he explain the delay all over Ireland in putting into effective operation the compulsory clauses of this Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings are pending under the Evicted Tenants Act for the acquisition of untenanted land on sixteen estates in county Cork. As I have already informed the hon. Member, the figures for the West Riding cannot be given separately. The Commissioners cannot say when the proceedings may terminate. In their last annual report, which has been presented to Parliament, they have fully described the difficulties which they have experienced in acquiring lands under the Evicted Tenants Act.