asked the Minister for Justice whether the Gárda Síochána supply information to the Irish Land Commission regarding the number of stock on the lands of farmers who are in arrears with the payment of land annuities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arrears of Land Annuities.
The answer in general is in the negative. It is, however, the practice of the Land Commission, in exceptional cases, to inquire through the Gárda Síochána into such questions as the occupation of lands in respect of which instalments of land purchase annuity are unpaid and into any circumstances which would have a bearing on the default.
Is it not highly undesirable to employ the Gárda Síochána for this purpose, in view of the effect on the prestige of the force of their being used to spy into property in relation to debts, and also on the efficiency of the force in respect of the collection of statistics relating to live stock and agricultural produce generally?
Mr. Boland
I have said that this is not the general practice. It is only in special circumstances that the practice is adopted, and I think it quite proper to do it.