§ MR W. A. MACDONALD (Queen's Co., Ossory)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he would inform the House how the Members of the Privy Council in Dublin were summoned to its meetings; 1826 whether they were summoned in the usual manner on the occasion of the recent Proclamations; and, if so, how we are to account for the fact that out of the 53 Members constituting the Privy Council only two were present, in addition to the Lord Lieutenant; whether he adhered to the statement he made on Friday last, that the Privy Council were not consulted before the Proclamation was issued; whether that is not in direct contravention of the terms of the Statute, which provides that an Association shall be declared to be dangerous only by and with the advice of the Privy Council; and, whether this irregularity does not render the Proclamation invalid?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I am not acquainted with the method by which the Privy Council is summoned. I have no doubt whatever that the ordinary practice was followed in the case alluded to. I do not know why not more than two Members of the Council were present; but, of course, it is habitual for the work of the Privy Council to be carried on by a very small portion of that body, especially at a time of year like the present, when a great number are absent. The hon. Gentleman asks me whether I adhere to the statement made by me, that the Privy Council were not consulted before the Proclamation was issued? Yes, Sir; I do adhere to that statement. The hon. Member asks whether that is not in direct contravention of the terms of the Act, which provides that an Association shall be declared dangerous only by and with the advice of the Privy Council? The advice is given by the Members of the Privy Council present attaching their signatures to the document; and the hon. Member concludes by asking whether this irregularity does not render the Proclamation invalid. No, Sir; it does not.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether a notice was sent to the right hon. John Morley, who is one of Her Majesty's Irish Privy Councillors?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. and learned Gentleman had better address I that Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Newcastle.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWould it be in Order for me, Mr. Speaker, to take the 1827 advice of the Chief Secretary, and put a Question to a private Member?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! The First Lord of the Treasury.