§ MR. FINIGANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the payment to the Government shorthand writing agents who attend land meetings in Ireland comes out of the Secret Service Fund; if not, on what part of the Estimates does the said payment become a charge?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, the Government shorthand writing agents are ordinary members of the Constabulary Force; therefore, they are not paid out of the Secret Service Fund. Some small extra expenses for travelling, &c, are defrayed out of the Constabulary Vote. In a few cases professional shorthand writers were engaged by the Government. Their expenses were paid out of the Vote for Law Charges and Criminal Prosecutions.