asked the Minister for Lands whether a notice dated 17th June, 1935, with the name of the solicitor to the Irish Land Commission printed at the foot thereof, served upon Mr. Patrick Scahill, Corveagh Lower, Aughagower, Westport, County Mayo, and stating that unless he paid the sum of £4 2s. 10d., amount of instalments due and 7/- for costs, in all a sum of £4 9s. 10d., within ten days, the said solicitor had been directed forthwith to put up Mr. Scahill's holding for sale by public auction, and in the event of the sale not realising the amount of arrears and costs then due that the Commissioners would take up possession of the said holding, did, in fact, emanate from the solicitor to the Irish Land Commission, and, if so, if he will state who directed the said solicitor to issue the said notice and in default of payment to sell the said holding, and by virtue of what statutory or other authority the said solicitor is empowered to sell the said holding, or to eject the owner therefrom without any legal proceedings; and further to ask the Minister whether it is the policy of the Irish Land Commission to evict owners of holdings from their homes for non-payment of small sums of £4 2s. 10d. or thereabouts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - A Westport Annuitant and Irish Land Commission.
A printed notice containing the particulars mentioned in the Deputy's question was issued from the Offices of the Land Commission in pursuance of the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts. I refer the Deputy to Section 18 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1887, and Sections 32, 33 and 37 of the Land Act, 1927. In carrying out their statutory duties as regards the recovery of arrears of annuities, the Land Commission consider the circumstances of each defaulter. Since the issue of the printed notice, Mr. Scahill has made an offer to the Land Commission to pay the arrears at the rate of 15/- per quarter. This offer is at the moment under consideration.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I would like if he would tell me if it is the policy of the Irish Land Commission to evict the owners of holdings from their homes for the non-payment of a small sum such as £4 9s. 10d.?
A Deputy
That is another question.
It is part of the question. Is it the policy of the Minister for Lands and the Land Commission to evict holders for a small sum like £4?
The Minister for Lands and the Land Commission are anxious to avoid evictions as far as possible, but the Deputy's Party, when in power, saw the necessity for taking such powers for the collection of the land annuities.
That is not an answer to my question. I respectfully submit, Sir, that I am entitled to an answer. Is it the policy of this Government to evict people from their holdings for small sums like £4 9s. 10d. which they cannot pay, or has this notice been sent out merely on their own?
I have nothing further to add to what I have said.
I am not satisfied with the answer, and I shall raise the question on the adjournment.