§ MR. BLAKEsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, When the Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Dietary of County Prisons in Ireland will be presented; and if he proposes to introduce a Bill to amend the Laws relative to County Prisons in Ireland during the present Session?
THE EARL OF MAYO, in reply, said, the Report would be laid on the table of the House that evening. Inquiries had been made into the whole subject, and the Commissioners were generally of opinion that there had been a deficiency of dietary; but at the same time they were much struck by the healthy appearance of the inmates of the gaols. They recommended that there should be a classification of prisoners in Irish gaols as in England, and as that could only be effected by legislation, he proposed to bring in a Bill very shortly with that object. The Commissioners also recommended that an additional meal should be added to the dietary of the prisoners in all the gaols in Ireland, and that there should be a change as regarded variety in their food. Next week he proposed to bring in the Bill referred to by the hon. Gentleman.