asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state what evidence is in the possession of the Irish Land Commission to prove that Mr. Patrick O'Loughlin, Shaheen, Glooney, County Glare, was not an employee of the owner of the Tuckey estate, recently divided in that district; and if in view of the evidence now available to prove that Mr. O'Loughlin was at least seven years an employee in the Tuckey estate, he will reconsider his application for a division.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TUCKEY ESTATE (CLARE).
As far as the Land Commission inspector could ascertain from inquiries made locally, Patrick O'Loughlin of Shaheen, Clooney, was not in the employment of the late owner of this estate when the lands were acquired by the Land Commission. These lands have been divided and allotted to tenants with the exception of an area of 41a. 2r. 20p. which is to be sold with Clooney House, and the Land Commission cannot provide Patrick O'Loughlin with a parcel of land on this estate.
If Mr. O'Loughlin produces a statement from the Parish Priest to the effect that he was working at least four or five years for Mrs. Tuckey, will the Minister reconsider his decision?
Mr. HOGAN
We have not denied that he may have been working for the vendor, but he was not working for the vendor at the time the Land Commission acquired the estate. Further, the lands are actually divided.
It is evident a mistake has been made in some quarter. Mr. O'Loughlin has been working there seven years; his father also worked on the estate and his grandfather before him. Is it fair to this man, after he has worked seven years on the place, to be thrown out? Will the Minister make arrangements so that this man will be provided in another quarter with a holding?
Hear, hear!
Mr. HOGAN
It may be that the man was working on this estate for seven or eight years, and that his father and grandfather worked there before him. I am not commenting upon that; but so far as my information goes, I believe he was not working there at the time the estate was acquired by the Land Commission.
As the Minister is aware, she had to give up the estate owing to disturbances, and therefore this man could not have been employed at the time the estate was acquired. The lady herself is quite prepared to verify the statement that he worked for her for seven years. I will hand in the Parish Priest's state ment.
Mr. HOGAN
I am not denying that at all.