§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONsaid, he begged to ask the right hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any new duties had been imposed on the Irish constabulary since the last Session of Parliament; and particularly whether they had been associated with the revenue police in the duty of enforcing the revenue laws, and of aiding in the detection of illicit distillation? Also, whether, in the event of no change having been already effected, it was at present the intention of the Government to make any such alteration in the duties of the constabulary as that to which he had alluded?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that the Government had not found it necessary to impose any new duties, properly so called, upon the Irish constabulary. It was true that an order, originally made in 1842, had been reissued, with some amendments; but what his noble Friend meant by new duties had not been imposed on the police. With regard to the intentions of the Government in relation to the employment of the police in enforcing the revenue laws, they were at present standing over for further consideration. The truth was, that no necessity had yet arisen for making any change in the duties of this force; while there were reasons which rendered it expedient to postpone such a step. He was glad to be able to state that the collection of the additional duty on spirits imposed last Session had proceeded in the most satisfactory manner, nor did he think that there had ever been a period when there was less illicit distillation in Ireland than at present.