§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the intentions of the Irish Government with regard to constabulary legislation; whether members of the force have signified their disappointment with the terms of the Bill; and whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a committee of inquiry to 2088 investigate the claims of the rank and file, and to see how far the cost of the force may be curtailed in other directions in order to meet an increased expenditure.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Government are proceeding with the Constabulary (Ireland) Bill. No doubt the members of the force would like to have had better terms, but I have no reason to suppose that the force in general are disappointed with the terms of the Bill. It is not intended to appoint a committee of inquiry.