HC Deb 23 February 1885 vol 294 cc1047-8
MR. LEWIS

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is proposed to renew the Prevention of Crime (Ireland) Act (1882); and, if so, whether the Bill will be brought on before Easter?

MR. GLADSTONE

I may remind the hon. Member that I have already explained that Her Majesty's Government do not intend to make any statement on questions of legislation with regard to more or less important sub- jects until they have seen their way with the Parliamentary Elections (Redistribution) Bill. In regard to this particular Bill, I can only say that the Government will take care to give full Notice to the House so as to avoid inconvenience as to the subject.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the postponement of the announcement of the policy of the Government with regard to a subject which interests the whole of the people of Ireland is in consequence of some negotiations which were proceeding similar to those which led to the compact in Kilmainham in order to enable the hon. Member for the City of Cork (Mr. Parnell) and his Friends to co-operate with the Liberal Part?

MR. SPEAKER

As far as I am able to gather the purport of the Question put by the hon. Member, I do not think that it comas within the fair limits of Questions ordinarily put in this House.

MR. GLADSTONE

Although out of Order the hon. Member managed to get a certain amount of his Question heard before the interruption. I therefore think it right to state that the supposition which be has so gratuitously put forward has no foundation whatever other than in his own imagination.

MR. LEWIS

I beg to give Notice that I shall repeat this Question on this day four weeks.

MR. GLADSTONE

I have to say that I shall then repeat the same answer.

MR. MAC IVER

Are we to take what the Prime Minister has just said as a positive assurance that the Government will make no compact whatever?

[No reply.]