HC Deb 02 June 1881 vol 261 cc1984-6
SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

said, he rose, in the name of the Prime Minister, to move a Resolution. The circumstances of the suspension of the hon. Member for Dungarvan (Mr. O'Donnell) would be remembered, and the explanation given by that hon. Member afterwards; and in view of that explanation this Resolution had been prepared.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House, having heard what passed in Committee on the 8th of March, and approving of the action taken by the Chairman of Ways and Means upon the facts then before him, accepts the explanation of the honourable Member for Dungarvan that it was not his desire or intention to disregard the authority of the Chair."—(Sir William Harcourt.)

MR. HEALY

said, he did not understand the Resolution, and that it would have been well if the right hon. and learned Gentleman had given them some explanation of it. He wished to know whether or not they were to understand that the second suspension of the hon. Member for Dungarvan was withdrawn?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

said, he understood the Resolution had been submitted to the hon. Member for Dungarvan, who entirely approved of it.

MR. CALLAN

I suppose this will restore the hon. Member to the life he lost; otherwise he is in a peculiar position, having been suspended twice.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

He can star one.

MR.ARTHUR O'CONNOR

said, that, in the first instance, the Chairman had arrived at a decision from the facts before him. Since then—or the Resolution would not have been made—some further facts had been ascertained which materially altered the situation. He would ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he attached any particular importance to the word "then" in the Resolution?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

again pointed out that the matter had been settled with the hon. Member for Dungarvan, and that the Resolution had his entire approval. The Government were carrying out their part of the understanding, and if hon. Members opposed the Motion it was not the fault of the Government.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

said, he did not wish to oppose it. He only wanted an explanation.

MR. WARTON

pointed out that the real meaning of the hon. Member for Dungarvan (Mr. O'Donnell) was not before the Chairman when he gave his decision. If the explanation had been given at that time, no doubt it would have been acted on.

Question put, and agreed to.