§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is the intention of the Government, now that the Oaths hitherto taken by Members of Parliament have been replaced by a simple and uniform Oath, to introduce a Bill in the present Session to substitute a similar form of Oath for that now required to be taken by all persons accepting municipal or other offices in Ireland?
§ MR. O'REILLYsaid, he would beg to supplement the question by asking whether the Government will abolish the Oath of Allegiance now taken by others than persons holding office in Ireland, and substitute a new Oath of Allegiance?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, in reply, that the Government did not propose to introduce any Bill at present for the object mentioned by the hon. Members; but they proposed and had decided to issue a Commission for the purpose of inquiring into the oaths taken in this country, of reviewing them, and of deciding what oaths ought to be altered, as contain- 161 ing anything unnecessary or objectionable. He might add that the inquiry would include the case to which the question of the hon. Member for Longford (Mr. O'Reilly), appeared to refer—namely, oaths taken by the students of Maynooth.