CONSTABULARY—(IRELAND). (Hansard, 8 August 1846)

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, if the hon. Gentleman would ask him with regard to any Bill that stood on the Paper for that day, he should be prepared to give him an answer. With regard to the general measures connected with Ireland, the hon. Gentleman had on the preceding day asked a question respecting some particular Bills, and had received a detailed answer from his right hon. Friend the Secretary for Ireland. [Mr. B. OSBORNE: I received no answer. I spoke of the District Lunatic Asylums Bill.] That Bill did not stand for that day; but when it was in the Paper his right hon. Friend would be ready to give the hon. Gentleman an answer. The hon. Gentleman said, the only Bill the Government seemed desirous of proceeding with was the Arms Bill; but that was not quite the fact. The object to which the attention of the Government was specially directed was to provide work for the unemployed poor during the next autumn and winter, and, therefore, they had looked very carefully over the Bills that were passed in the early part of this Session. All those Bills had undergone a very minute revision, and it was intended to carry similar Bills—they had already been introduced—through the House, which should provide, in the best way they could, employment for the poor during the autumn and winter. With regard to the permanent Irish Bills, the Government had reserved them for the next Session of Parliament; and as to those Bills which were continued from year to year, and which it would be dangerous to stop at once without consideration, the Government proposed to keep them on foot in order that they might be discussed fully next Session. With regard to the Arms Bill, when it was brought in by the late Government, he said he thought it would be necessary to continue it another year.