§ MR. J. O'CONNELLrose, pursuant to notice, to put a question. He wished to ask the Secretary for Ireland if it were the intention of Government to introduce, or assist the introduction of, into the Irish 335 Poor Law Bill, any provision to give additional facilities in the workhouses for religious worship; and also, any provision for obviating the recurrence of the disputes and interferences on religious matters which had been complained of under the present law? There were, unhappily, to be found in Ireland many instances of interference with the religious feelings of the inhabitants of workhouses; and he regretted also to state, that divine worship was often performed in the eating-hall of the workhouse, or in the common room where the paupers were accustomed to assemble for purposes of recreation.
LORD J. RUSSELLreplied, that the Government had no intention to introduce any clause of that kind; at the same time, if the hon. Member himself, or any other hon. Member, whenever the House went into Committee, should propose a provision having such an object in view, he was not prepared to say that he should oppose it. Of course, he felt, as fully as any one could, that it was most desirable there should be no interference with the religious feelings of paupers.