To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether it is a fact that decrees have been issued for payment of Land Commission annuities due, and have been passed to the Sheriffs for execution, and if so, what is the number of such decrees and the amount involved; whether he can state in how many of these cases the persons against whom the decrees have been given are entitled to receive compensation under awards by the Shaw Commission or under the Criminal Injuries Acts; and whether in such cases he will arrange for the execution of the decrees for arrears of annuities to be suspended and for avoiding the infliction of the additional burden of Sheriff's expenses.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - LAND COMMISSION ANNUITIES.
I understand that many decrees have been issued in respect of overdue instalments of Land Purchase Annuities. I am not in a position to state how many of these decrees have actually been handed to under-sheriffs for execution. I have no information which would enable me to state how many persons entitled to receive compensation under awards by the Shaw Commission or under the Criminal Injuries Acts have had decrees issued against them in respect of instalments of Land Purchase Annuities. I might point out there is no power to interfere with the decrees of the Courts and the question of enforcing all decrees obtained against persons entitled to compensation under awards by the Shaw Commission or the Criminal Injuries Acts would be one for consideration by the Land Commission authorities, who are the creditors in law.
Who is responsible for the Land Commission?
If the Deputy puts down a question I will be pleased to answer him.