§ SIR ROBERT PEELsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the Inspectors General of Prisons have made any representation to the Irish Government with a view to the consolidation and Amendment of the Laws relating to county prisons in Ireland; and, if so, whether the Government proposes to legislate on the subject? He also wished to know when the annual Report of the Inspectors General of prisons will be laid upon the table? He strongly objected to the practice of postponing the production of these Reports till the end of the Session.
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, it was quite correct that the inspectors had made such representations to 672 the Government, and the Government, with their aid, had prepared a Bill for the consolidation and amendment of the laws relating to county prisons in Ireland. If the state of public business gave him any hope of passing the Bill during the present Session, he should wish to do so, but he was afraid he could entertain no such hopes. He proposed, therefore, to introduce the Bill and lay it on the table before the time when the Irish grand juries met at the summer Assizes, so that it might be considered by them and by the country. The Report would be produced before the end of the Session.