§ MR. DOBBSsaid, he rose to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether any steps have been taken to consolidate and amend the Criminal Law of Ireland, and to assimilate it to the Criminal Law of 857 England, and whether it is his intention to propose any measure on the subject during the present Session; and if so, when he will be prepared to introduce the same?
MR. WHITESIDEsaid, the Chief Secretary for the Home Department had submitted to the authorities in Ireland a valuable paper issued by the Statute Law Commissioners upon the subject of the Criminal Law. The question there discussed related to the consolidation of the Criminal Law—whether there should be one set of statutes for both countries, or whether the laws of each country should be kept distinct. A report had been made recommending one set of statutes for both countries, and that those statutes should be consolidated. He begged to state that he was ready, upon any day the Chancellor of the Exchequer could give an opportunity to the Attorney General for England for bringing in his measure, to lend his hon. and learned Friend every assistance in his power.