§ MR. REDMONDasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If it is a fact that, during last year, 300 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force resigned; and, if so, whether this was due to the nature of the duties recently devolving upon the police in Ireland?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, the total number of resignations in the Royal Irish Constabulary Force in 1881 was 352; of these 151 were recruits who 459 had never done any police duty. The reasons assigned by the others were generally "to better their condition," or "required at home," or "to emigrate." Very few, indeed, of this loyal and trustworthy force, of which it is impossible to speak too highly, have assigned "the nature of the duties recently devolving on them" as any reason for quitting the Service.