§ COLONEL FRENCHsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, If the practice of calling out for training annually the English, Welsh, and Scotch Regiments of Militia, and, at the same time, neglecting to afford similar advantages to the Irish Regiments, is to be longer continued; and, if so, for what reason? The right hon. and gallant Gentleman said this was the fifth year that the Irish regiments of militia had not been called out.
§ COLONEL FORDEalso asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to call out the Irish Militia this year for training?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, who rose to answer the Questions, said, that some weeks since his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War had asked the Irish Government whether they were desirous that the Irish Militia should be embodied during the present year. The question received very careful consideration indeed at the hands of: the Irish Government, and it was decided that, on the whole, it would be better to defer that operation for the present—he might say only for another year. He need scarcely remind his right hon. and gallant Friend that they had not yet begun to undertake the task of governing Ireland under the provisions of the ordinary law, and if any error were committed it would be better that that error should be on the side of caution.