Mr. Vesey Fitzgeraldsaid, he wished to put to his right hon. friend a question of considerable importance to Ireland, respecting the repeal or continuance of certain duties, which, by the act of union, were to be collected for twenty years after the passing of that act. They were duties imposed on articles imported into Ireland, being of British produce or manufacture. In the present situation of Ireland, with respect to manufactures, it was of great moment to those interested, that they should be acquainted with what his majesty's government intended to do, with reference to this subject, in the present session of parliament: for in this session it must be decided, whether those duties should or should not be continued. His right hon. friend had, in courtesy to him, stated the course that was intended to be taken; but it was extremely important, that by a statement made in his place, the public in Ireland should also be apprized of his right hon. friend's intention.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerwas quite aware of the great importance of the question put by his right hon. friend. The subject was one of the utmost interest, and he was bound to say, had engaged the previous attention of the Treasury. Sufficient time had not elapsed to enable them to come to a final decision. But he must state to his right hon. friend, that a farther continuance of the duties, beyond the period to which they were now restricted, appeared to him to be unavoidable. But, whether that term would be longer or shorter, and whether it would be advisable that the measure should be one of temporary or permanent policy, it was not in his power to say.
Mr. Vesey Fitzgeralddid not mean to express any opinion on the subject; but he was anxious that those persons who were interested should bring their case before parliament, when he hoped a just and liberal view would be taken of it. He now begged to put another question to his right hon. friend. When parliament separated at the close of the last session, it was in the recollection of the House, that a bill was about to be submitted to its consideration, for regulating the distilleries of Ireland. In consequence of that measure, which had reference to illicit distilleries, having been abandoned, 700 considerable uncertainty prevailed with respect to the existing law, which affected very sensibly the agriculture, manufactures, and revenue of Ireland. Those who had large distilleries did not like to proceed, as they were ignorant of the measures that might be adopted. Those also who had no concern in distilleries, but who were interested in preserving the peace and morals of the country, by preventing illicit distillation, were anxious to ascertain the exact state of the law as early as possible. Any information on this subject would be most important indeed to the interests involved.
§ Lord Miltonsaid, the subject of the duties imposed on goods imported into Ireland was one of the utmost importance to the manufactures of both countries, and he hoped that, when regulations were adopted, they would be rendered plain and intelligible. As the duties at present stood, the schedule was not sufficiently clear. Some circumstances, he understood, had in consequence taken place in the Custom-house in Ireland, the proceedings connected with which were considered vexatious on this side of the water.
§ Sir H. Parnellwished clearly to understand on what ground a continuance of those duties was to be supported. He begged leave to ask, whether the article of the union by which those duties were imposed had been carefully examined, with a view of fully deciding whether or not the duties could be continued beyond the period of twenty years, without an infringement of that article? At the time the union was under consideration, the question of the duties was argued and discussed; and it was supposed, that when the act of union expired, the duties must expire with it, unless the article by which they were regulated was infringed. He wished to know what the opinion of the crown lawyers was—whether or not those duties could be continued, without violating the compact entered into between the two countries?
The Chancellor of the Exchequerthought it would be more regular if but one question were asked at a time. As to what the noble lord had said with respect to the regulations between Great Britain and Ireland, he admitted that the subject was one which ought to be fully inquired into; but any change in the system must evidently be a matter of ulterior consideration. With respect to the legal doubt that had been suggested by the hon. baro- 701 net, whether the continuance of those duties would or would not be an infringement of the act of union, he must observe that he had never heard such a doubt started before. He had always considered, that on the expiration of the twenty years, every subject connected with the country was open to parliamentary regulation. The only meaning which he affixed to the act of union was, that for twenty years a positive agreement was made not to interfere with or alter certain regulations. With respect to the second question put by his right hon. friend on the subject of distillation, he was not prepared to declare what might be done when that subject came under discussion. It certainly involved a question of great importance to the revenue and agriculture of Ireland; but he was not aware that he could at present give his right hon. friend any answer, except by referring him to the measures that were in progress last session. Every means, however, would be taken to obtain information, with a view to the correction of the evil that had been pointed out.
§ Sir H. Parnellobserved, that as the period to which the provisions in the articles of the union extended was on the point of expiring, he trusted that such arrangements would thenceforward be made as might conduce to the convenience of the members for Ireland; that a considerable part of the Irish business would be transacted at home, so that that House might not be troubled with the proceedings of Irish vestries, and that that useless piece of pageantry, the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland, might be got rid of.