HC Deb 24 October 1884 vol 293 cc153-4
MR. HEALY

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Why the inquiry, promised in this House last August, into the arrest of Mr. F. A. Chance, solicitor, Dublin, has never been granted?

MR. TREVELYAN

I am not a Member of the Government at this moment, and it is only with the indulgence of the House I answer the Question of the hon. Member for Monaghan. I had brought to my notice only to-day, it so happens, the letter written by the Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Police at the end of last month. On reading that letter carefully, I find that Mr. Harrel was under a mistake with regard to the promise which I made in Committee of the House of Commons last Session. The origin of that mistake, no doubt, is that the volume of Hansard was not published; and the reports in the newspapers of what I said are, so far as I have been able to see, extremely brief, and would not convey the full meaning of what I said. But I have written to Mr. Harrel, explaining how the matter stands, and begging that the inquiry may be at once proceeded with.

MR. HEALY

Might I ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the officials in Dublin Castle are dependent upon volumes of Hansard for the instructions which should be given them by Members of the Irish Government?

[No reply.]