§ MR. O'REILLYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is not a fundamental rule of the system of National Education in Ireland that the National Schools and their registers should be open at all fitting times to the public; whether there is a by-law, rule, or decision of the Board (notwithstanding such rule) that no visitor shall be permitted to copy or make any extract or note from the registers, especially the register of what are called "Religious Instruction Certificates;" and, whether if such a limitation is enforced, any means are taken to secure the advantages of publicity, and to provide a test of the accuracy of such certificates, which are generally signed by marks?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, there was a rule of the Board of Education, the effect of which was to secure to visitors full liberty to examine the registers, daily record and class books; but the Commissioners decided in 1869 that the rule quoted did not give to visitors the right to copy or make extracts from the registers. The Commissioners having considered the Question of the hon. Member, were of opinion that sufficient publicity was secured by the rules, and that the accuracy of the registers was tested by the certificate of the Inspector in each case. Having investigated the subject by the help of documents sent to him by the Commissioners, he also thought that sufficient publicity was given through the means which they adopted.