asked the Minister for Justice whether he intends to introduce proposals for legislation to deal in any way with the ground rent system or with ground rents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ground Rents.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will now answer Question No. 16 of 6th July, 1950, on my assurance that no question of confiscation of all ground rents is intended or implied by the question.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together.
As I indicated recently in the course of discussions with a deputation from the Labour Party, I intend, subject to the approval of the Government which I am seeking without delay, to set up a commission of inquiry whose terms of reference will provide for an investigation of the working of the provisions of Part V of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1931, governing the grant of reversionary leases on the expiration of old leases.
Does the Minister propose to take any steps for the conversion of leasehold lands or tenements subject to ground rent into fee simple; and in case there might be a question of compensation might I remind the Minister that the land tenancies in this country were converted into fee simple ownership without compensation?
I am accepting the last part of the Deputy's supplementary question that that is so. Under these terms of reference, the whole question of ground rents will be reviewed, but I would not like to say what the proposals might be.
Very well, so long as it all comes under review.