asked the President whether he is aware that statements have been made in the Press that it is the intention of the Government to constitute a Commission to inquire into the position of town tenants in the Saorstát; and, if so, what are the terms of reference of the proposed Commission, the names of the Commissioners and the proposed date for its first sitting.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POSITION OF TOWN TENANTS.
The Executive Council on the 19th instant appointed a Commission
"to inquire into and examine the existing law governing the relationship of landlord and tenant in respect of holdings in urban districts, towns or villages occupied either for residential or for business purposes or partly for residential and partly for business purposes with a view to ascertaining what hardships or anomalies, if any, arise under the law, and to recommend to the Executive Council what changes in the law are practicable and desirable to alleviate or remove such hardships and anomalies and, further, to inquire into and examine the working of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899, with a view to ascertaining to what extent the purpose aimed at by that Act was achieved and in what respect, if any, an amendment of that Act or an extension of its principle is desirable."
The Commission consists of:—
Mr. Justice Creed Meredith (Chairman):
John J. Horgan, Esq., Solicitor, Cork:
M. J. Rowan, Esq., Seed Merchant, Dublin (President of the Dublin Rotary Club);
John J. Murphy, Esq., Town Clerk of Dublin, and
Thomas J. Byrne, Esq., F.R.I.A.I., Principal Architect, Office of Public Works, with
Mr. John B. Hughes, of the Office of the Registry of Deeds, as Secretary.
The preliminary meeting of the Commission will be held during the present week, and arrangements will be made for the holding of public sittings without delay.
Arising out of the President's reply, can he give any assurance that the report of this Commission will be issued during the lifetime of the present Parliament?
I cannot give any assurance.
Will the President say if the appointment of this Commission by the Government is really for the purpose of defeating the Bill that is coming before the Dáil to-morrow?
That is obvious.
It is not obvious; it is correct. I would like to ask the President whether any representation will be allowed on the Commission from the Town Tenants? As the Commission stands I think there is no such representation on it, and there is no guarantee that fair play or justice will be done to the ordinary tenant.
Arising out of the answer, will the President say what qualification the gentlemen he has named have for selection to act on a commission of this kind? Will the President also say what connection, if any, there is between a Town Tenants' Commission and a Rotary Club?
They talk about everything there.
I have asked the President a question as to whether any representation will be allowed on the Commission on behalf of the town tenants.
Neither party interested is represented by any person on this Commission.
May I ask whether weekly tenants will be invited to give evidence?
I presume they will. The Commission has been appointed to receive evidence from any and every interest in connection with the problems they are to solve.