§ MR. DOWNINGsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he can name a day on which the Bill to amend the present system of granting Licences for the sale of Spirits and other intoxicating Liquors would be introduced; and, whether it is intended that the Bill shall apply to Ireland; if not, whether a separate Bill applicable to that Country will be introduced, and when?
MR. BRUCEsaid, he had given notice of his intention to bring in on Friday a Bill for amending the present system of Licences; but there were still some unsettled points with the Inland Revenue Department which rendered it expedient to postpone the Bill until Friday se'nnight. With respect to the extension of the provisions to Ireland, it would not, he thought, be convenient to embody an amendment of the law of Ireland in an English Bill. There was some difference in the law and practice of the two countries; but his right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland had the subject under his consideration, in order to see how far the improvements which the Government hoped to make in the English law might be applicable to Ireland.