§ MR. PARNELLasked the Prime Minister a Question of which he had given the right hon. Gentleman private Notice—namely, What course the Government intended to pursue next Session in consequence of the rejection by the House of Lords of the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Bill?
MR. GLADSTONEAs to what has happened, of course it is a matter beyond my remedy; but, undoubtedly, it is a subject of very great regret indeed to Her Majesty's Government that this Bill should have failed to pass into law, as we deem it to be a Bill of decided public utility, and adapted to meet the most obvious demands of justice. With regard to the future, I cannot, of course, anticipate the exact arrangements of Business for next Session; and it is a possibility that a Bill relating to registration in Ireland might have its most important provisions included in a measure of a larger character. But, setting aside that possibility for the moment, and assuming that it will not arrive, it certainly would be our desire to reintroduce the Bill at the very commencement of the next Session, and to press it at once on the attention of Parliament.
§ MR. PARNELLIn reference to the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I would wish to ask whether the Government, in the Registration Bill which it is proposed to introduce next Session, would draft that measure so that it may take effect at the revision for 1884?
MR. GLADSTONEThat is a Question of important detail, which will have the best attention of my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland. We will endeavour—and, undoubtedly, are endeavouring—to give early effect to any measure we propose on that subject.