Commons Sitting of 5 July 1865

ROMAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN IRELAND.—QUESTION.
MR. HENNESSYrose to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department of which he had given him notice privately. The Question was an important one as far as Ireland was concerned. He had mentioned the subject to the Chief Secretary, who referred him to the right hon. Baronet. The Question referred to negotiations supposed to be going on between the Government and the Irish Bishops respecting the proposal lately mentioned in the House as to the Catholic University in Ireland. In order to render the Question perfectly clear, he might mention that a Member of the Government

1177
(Mr. Chichester Forteseue), in his address to the electors of Louth, had stated it was with the greatest satisfaction the Government found that the promoters of the Catholic University were prepared to meet the views of the Government on this matter. Rumours were afloat on the subject, and he should be glad to know how far they were well founded. He would beg to read the following extract from a letter of the Roman Catholic Archbishop, dated St. Jarlath's, Tuam, Feast of St. Peter and Paul, 1865:—
"The rumour is utterly without foundation. The Bishops have had no deliberation on the subject. What the private opinion of individuals may be I am not aware, but, whatever may be their opinions, they are not authorized in the name of the Irish Episeopacy to treat with the Government on important subjects affecting the interests of all. Such rumours should be received with the utmost caution, for it is not likely that any body of men would attach much importance to vague Ministerial declarations on the eve of an expiring Parliament, which cannot remind the speakers of such promises, or require their fulfilment. Besides, when the foundations of sound Catholic instruction are laid by the removal of the acknowledged evils of that portion of the mixed education under the National Board, it will then be high time for us to treat with the Government on those high branches of collegiate education which they have been labouring to establish, without any reference to episcopal authority, and to the injury of the Catholic people.
He wished to know how far the statement in the address of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Louth is correct— whether the Government has communicated with the Irish Bishops on the subject, and if they agree or disagree with the proposal which the Government has made?
SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, in reply, that the hon. Member had given him no notice of this question till just before he rose to put it, He had no hesitation, however, in saying that since the time when he made the statement on the part of the Government in that House, on the Motion brought forward by the hon. Member for Tralee (The O'Donoghue) he had had no formal communication with any persons on the subject of the change to be made in the Charter of the Queen's University in order to meet the views and wishes of the Roman Catholics in Ireland in relation to obtaining University degrees. He had communicated privately with the Lord Lieutenant and several friends connected with Ireland, members of the Roman Catholic Church, in order to ascertain in what manner the object
1178
could best be effected in accordance with the wishes of those which were chiefly interested; but he had had no communication, direct or indirect, formal or private, with any member of the Roman Catholic hierarchy on the subject. He had stated that the Government thought it just and reasonable that the same facilities substantially should be given to Roman Catholics in Ireland to obtain University degrees as were enjoyed by others of Her Majesty's subjects, and they were prepared to act fully in accordance with that declaration. He had advised that such a change should he made in the Charter of the Queen's University in Ireland as would accomplish the object. He might be allowed to add that the manner in which the proposal of the Government had been received by the Roman Catholic body in Ireland was entirely satisfactory.
House adjourned at Six o'clock.