MR. O'CONNELLput the following questions to the right hon. Baronet: 1st. Whether it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present Session, to enable the same proportion, as nearly as can be, of the people of Ireland to enjoy the elective franchise with the comparative proportion of the population of England enjoying that franchise? 2nd. Whether it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present Session, to enable the people of Ireland to return a just and an adequate number of representatives to this House? 3rd. Whether it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present Session, to equalize the franchise and powers in the Municipal Reform Act for Ireland, with the same franchises and powers conceded by the Municipal Reform Act of England to the English corporations? 4th. Whether it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, duiing the present Session, to give to tenants in Ireland adequate and full compensation for improvements made upon their lands during the tenancy?
§ SIR R. PEELI propose to state generally, in answer to the questions of the hon. and learned Gentlemen, the course which the Government intend to pursue. It is not our intention to bring in any Government measure, unless of the most pressing necessity, until those affecting the commercial interests of the country shall have been disposed of. So far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, we propose that, excepting the Mutiny Bill and some matters of finance, which are necessary for the conduct of the public business, the measures now pending for discussion shall have precedence before all others. I have, however, to state to the hon. and learned Gentleman, that we hope to be enabled, in the course of the present Session, to bring in a Bill for encouraging in Ireland the improvement of land, by providing, in certain cases, for compensation to tenants for improvements upon their holdings. We 1392 hope to be enabled to bring in a Bill, in the course of the present Session, amending the law with respect to the registration of county voters, and to the mode of holding elections generally in that country. That Bill will also propose alterations in the law as affecting the franchise of county voters. With regard to the Municipal Corporations of Ireland, Her Majesty's Government hope to be enabled to bring in a Bill, in the course of the present Session, the effect of which will be substantially, I will not say in every particular, to assimilate the municipal franchise in that country as nearly as possible to the municipal franchise in England. It is hardly fair to call for more explicit information. I should much prefer deferring any information respecting the details of those measures until the Secretary for Ireland shall have an opportunity of explaining them.