asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Irish Land Commission have taken any steps to acquire the estate of an absentee landlord named Colonel Sholts Douglas, situated in the parish of Newtown Forbes, Co. Longford, and which is let at present in divisions to a number of graziers who have other large farms in this parish and elsewhere; also if he is further aware that there are over one hundred tenants on the tenanted portion of this landlord's estate in the parish of Drumlish, Co. Longford, living on uneconomic holdings of from five to ten acres in extent, particulars of which have been furnished by the tenants' solicitor, Mr. T. W. Delaney, to the Commissioners; also if he is aware that the particular parishes in which those large farms are situated are comprised of uneconomic holders, and whether, in view of those facts, he will see that the purchase and division of this estate is expedited.

The Land Commission have been furnished by the owner with particulars of the estate referred to, to enable them to collect under the Land Act, 1923, compounded arrears of rent and payment in lieu of rent from the tenants, including those referred to by the Deputy. The Land Commission have also received from the Deputy a communication on behalf of tenants on the estate requesting that these holdings be divided amongst them. The owner has not yet lodged the prescribed particulars to enable the purchase of the estate to be proceeded with, but when these are lodged the Estate will be dealt with by the Land Commission in due course, when the matters referred to in the question will be considered.

Arising out of that question I would like to ask the Minister whether in the event of the landlord refusing, as he has persistently refused under previous Governments, to sell this estate, and in view of the fact that congestion exists in the tenant portion of the estate and in the parish, will the compulsory powers of the 1923 Land Act be enforced?

I do not know would it be fair to answer that question by asking another—I wonder what does the Deputy think?