During a session in the House of Commons, local questions of significance to Ireland were brought to the forefront. Mr James Halpin, a member representing East Clare, raised the issue of foreign tinned meats supplied to Irish institutions. In response, Chief Secretary Mr Bryce clarified that tinned meats were not used in prisons and were not extensively employed in asylums and workhouses. These institutions, under popular control, were expected to take necessary precautions.
Mr Halpin persisted in his inquiry, suggesting that if tinned meats were to be used in public institutions under the Chief Secretary’s jurisdiction, then instructions should be given to procure “the pure unadulterated tinned meats of Shaw and Bon of Limerick.” In response, Mr Bryce offered a rather indirect answer, simply stating that he did not believe tinned meats were used extensively in these institutions, leaving the question only partially addressed.
Mr Halpin also inquired about the case of Michael Moloney from Ballina, Labasheeda, and the reasons behind the delay in reinstating him to his holding. Mr Bryce explained that the Estates Commissioners were still in negotiations for the purchase of the estate and were considering Moloney’s restoration.
Further questions were posed by Mr P. J. O’Shaughnessy, the Member of Parliament for West Limerick. He requested that the Chief Secretary direct the Estates Commissioners to negotiate for the reinstatement of several evicted tenants on the estate of the Knight of Glin. Mr Bryce responded that the Commissioners were awaiting their inspector’s report before taking any action.
Mr Bryce noted that the Commissioners had received applications for reinstatement from James Murphy and Laurence O’Connell, who were evicted tenants on the Shelton estate in Rossmore. These cases were under thorough examination by the Commissioners’ inspector with the aim of reaching a settlement.
Additionally, Mr Bryce addressed the case of Mrs. Ellen Sheehy, an evicted tenant in Nanteen, who had arranged with her landlord to purchase her dwelling house. Mr Bryce indicated that if Mrs. Sheehy completed her purchase, the Commissioners would consider granting her a grant.
In response to a question about the number of applications received from evicted tenants seeking reinstatement, Mr Bryce stated that there were 309 such applications from individuals in County Limerick. Of these, 26 had already been reinstated, 18 did not meet the criteria outlined in section 2 of the Act of 1903, and the remaining cases were awaiting inspection and further consideration.
Regarding the cases of John Sheehy, William Ryan, and Owen Sheehy from Rabeen and Ballinagnile in Croagh, who were evicted in 1884 and 1887, Mr Bryce conveyed that the Estates Commissioners could not determine their course of action until they received the inspector’s report.
These parliamentary discussions shed light on local concerns in Ireland, particularly those related to the welfare of evicted tenants and the quality of food supplied to institutions in the region.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 03 July 1906
