§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Michael Quinlan, of Reash, Pallasgrean, County Limerick, wrote to the Department of Agriculture on 23rd February claiming partial exemption on the grounds of flooding; if he offered to till a certain number of acres or any number which an inspector from the Department would specify after an inspection of the holding; if he will say who authorised the police to visit this gentleman five times after he had expressed his willingness to comply with any order made by the Department's inspector and after he had satisfied the sergeant of police that he had seeds, both oats and potatoes, purchased to put in the land as soon as the flood would dry up and his horses could plough; is he aware that Mr. Quinlan is a county councillor and a member of the Limerick County Committee of Agriculture, and at inconvenience to himself had attended two meetings weekly of the Limerick County Food Committee, and never lost an opportunity of forwarding the cause of food production; why was he singled out and at whose request, or is it to be taken for granted that prominent Nationalist public men who have given their word of honour to comply with the tillage scheme are to be harassed and insulted at the instigation of some unknown official or vindictive person; is he aware that the Limerick County Committee of Agriculture, under the chairmanship of Lord Emly, passed a resolution condemning the attitude of the Department; and if he will put a stop to such conduct?
§ Mr. DUKEMr. Quinlan has rendered public service in the manner indicated in the question, and the Department of Agriculture recognise the value of such service, and that Mr. Quinlan desiredbonâ fide to comply with the tillage Regulations, as he is doing. The visits of the police were visits made, without any special instruction in regard to Mr. Quinlan, in the course of duties which were placed upon them throughout Ireland for the purpose of obtaining prompt reports as to the progress of tillage under the Regulations. By this means great public expense in the employment of 214W inspectors was avoided, and, speaking generally, annoyance has not been caused to occupiers. A resolution in the terms mentioned in the question has been received by the Department. I am sorry Mr. Quinlan was aggrieved by the visits of the police, and I hope he will resume his work on the Food Production Committee