§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether he can state why Messrs. Thomas Allman, P. B. Scanlon, and Edmond Doaling, of Knockreagh, Ardfert, have been served with notices to pay rent under threat of legal proceedings for the half-year ending 25th March, 1910, notwithstanding the fact that these tenants signed purchase agreements on 29th January, 1910; and whether the agent, Mr. William Haggard, of Tralee, who represents the landlord, M. H. Franks, has any authority from the Estates Commissioners to take such proceedings against the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is pending for sale to the Estates Commissioners, who have made a proposal which has been accepted by the owner; but they are not yet in a, position to enter into an agreement to purchase under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as the statutory proportion of the tenants have not yet signed undertakings in accordance with the provisions of that section. Until the Commissioners enter into an agreement to purchase, the tenants are liable for rent as heretofore, and the interest in lieu of rent, which the tenants who have signed undertakings to purchase have agreed to pay, will only commence to run from the date of such agreement to purchase.