HC Deb 12 April 1888 vol 324 cc1063-5
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N,)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the following statement in Monday's Times is true— Lord Ashbourne, the Irish Lord Chancellor, was engaged throughout Saturday at the Irish Office (in London) in connection with the proclamation of the Nationalist meetings in Ireland yesterday; and, if not, can it be ascertained how this information was communicated to that journal?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I think the hon. and learned Gentleman will probably himself feel it is no part of my business to inquire as to how Members of the Government occupy their time. I have no special information as to how the report got into the newspapers, and I would recommend the hon. and learned Gentleman to consult some journalist.

MR. T. M. HEALY

said, that he did not ask any such frivolous Question as that suggested by the Chief Secretary. His Question really was, whether the Lord Chancellor of Ireland discharged any executive functions?

[No reply.]

MR. T. M. HEALY

Answer, answer!

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. T. M. HEALY

respectfully submitted that his Question was regular and proper. He wanted to know whether, contrary to the practice of previous Lord Chancellors in Ireland, and contrary to the practice in England, the Irish Lord Chancellor had any duties except those of a purely judicial character—whether, in fact, he discharged executive functions?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. and learned Gentleman must be perfectly aware that the present Irish Lord Chancellor is a Member of the Cabinet, and that the Lord Chancellor of England is always a Member of the Cabinet. I can assure him that the present Lord Chancellor of Ireland no more exercises executive functions than his Predecessors have done.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is it a fact that the Irish Lord Chancellor was— Engaged throughout Saturday at the Irish Office in connection with proclamation of the Nationalist meetings in Ireland on Sunday?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have already told the hon. and learned Gentleman that it is no part of my duty to state how Members of the Government occupy their time. I do not, however, wish to give offence to the hon. and learned Gen- man, and I will depart from the general rule I have laid down so far as to tell him what I think he might conjecture for himself—namely, that the arrangements with regard to the meetings on Sunday were made long before Saturday last.