HC Deb 18 July 1872 vol 212 cc1370-2
MR. DISRAELI

With regard to the consideration of the Judgment of Mr. Justice Keogh, I think it would be convenient if the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury would inform us, Whether he has decided on the course which Her Majesty's Government will take on that subject?

MR. GLADSTONE

I have no announcement to make at present beyond the fact that Thursday, as I have stated already, will be devoted to the consideration, so far as it may be necessary, of that question, and I will take care, with respect to other matters, that due notice is given. My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General for Ireland (Mr. Dowse) is still engaged in considering the important questions referred to him by statute. I am able to state that he will, not later than on Tuesday, announce to the House the course he intends to take.

MR. DISRAELI

My object is merely to prevent misconception, and my Question was put in consequence of what I understood to be the promise of the right hon. Gentleman that he would give Notice of a Resolution if the Government decided upon bringing one forward. It may be for the convenience of the House to know certainly that on Thursday, the 25th, the opinion of the House will be asked upon the question; because if Her Majesty's Government, upon reflection, say they are of opinion not to propose a Resolution, an hon. Member of this House will avail himself of the offer of the right hon. Gentleman to postpone the Orders of the Day and give precedence to a Motion asking the opinion of the House upon the subject.

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is not the case that the hon. and learned Member for Limerick (Mr. Butt) has had for some time a Motion on the Paper which raises the whole question, which he has been and is most anxious to submit to the judgment of the House.

MR. GLADSTONE

If there is such a Motion on the Paper, it is hardly within the rules for me to announce that it is so. I do not think it is part of our duty to determine, as between different independent Members, what Motion shall have precedence.

MR. DISRAELI

Speaking to a point of Order with regard to this Question, I beg to remind the hon. Member opposite (Mr. M. Henry) that the Notice of Motion of the hon. and learned Member for Limerick is given for a day when Motions are preceded by Orders of the Day, which are at the disposal of the Government. Certainly I understood—I believe it was the general impression on both sides of the House—that the offer of the right hon. Gentleman was that the Orders of the Day would be postponed in order to give precedence to a Notice of Motion by which the opinion of the House might be asked upon the Judgment of Mr. Justice Keogh. I do not think it was understood at the time that it was an offer which referred to a Notice of Motion which had already been given, and which was to come on after the Orders of the Day.

MR. GLADSTONE

It neither referred particularly to the Notice of Motion, nor did it exclude that Notice of Motion. We will give an opportunity for the discussion, and it is not for me to say that the question should not be discussed upon any Notice which had up to that time been given.