asked the Minister for Lands if it is normal procedure to issue a warrant for the collection of rent without a six-day notice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rent Collection Warrants.
33.
Instalments of land purchase annuity fall due on 1st May-1st June and 1st November-1st December each year dependent on the particular Act under which the advance for purchase is made. On expiry of 14 days from the due date, unpaid instalments may be treated as arrears and proceedings for their recovery instituted.
It is customary to issue reminders in the case of unpaid instalments in the form of a notice allowing a period of six days for payment. Failing payment, proceedings for recovery are instituted after a further reasonable interval.
Surely the Minister is not saying that it is customary in respect of what the old landlords used to call the "hanging gale" to abrogate the giving of the six days' notice? This was Clanrickarde's method of summary eviction, to hang round every tenant's neck a hanging gale under which he was evicted.
This has nothing to do with it.
I thought the Minister spoke of cases where arrears were outstanding and where additional procedure was occasionally justified. Are not the arrears the hanging gale? Surely they will not do away with the six-days' notice practice?
I did not say we were doing away with it. I said the ordinary practice is that a six-days' notice is given. There is no statutory authority for that. The six-days' notice is a reminder. There is no question of doing away with it either.
Did I not understand the Minister to say that, in cases where there is an accumulation of arrears, the Land Commission may determine to depart from the customary procedure? Might I remind the Minister——
This is Question Time.
Surely to God we can raise our voices in this House against a proposal to re-introduce the hanging gale which became the curse of the country?
The only person introducing it is Deputy Dillon.
Yes, because surely the Minister himself knows of it. Surely the Minister will not say that he would approve of the Land Commission departing from the normal six-days' notice practice because there are arrears?
If the Deputy had listened to what I said in my reply——
I listened to the Minister very closely.
I said that when they are 14 days in arrears, in the ordinary course the six-days' notice goes out. That is the practice and it is not departed from.
But the Minister said that where there are arrears——
Where there are accumulated arrears, after notice——
This is the hanging gale. That is Clanrickarde's game.
The hanging gale is the Deputy's red herring now in order to create disorder.
You ought to be ashamed to hear the word Lord Barrymore devised and operated in your county.
What is the Deputy talking about?
I am telling the Parliamentary Secretary, Deputy Davern, who is sitting behind the Minister what you and he and his father know. Lord Barrymore used that device.
It was never used by Fianna Fáil and we never took our example from British practices.
I hope you never will, although sometimes I think you do.
Order. Question No. 34.